ATV Tours Busts on Koh Pha Ngan Lead to Arrests

Photo via Facebook/ Borderpress Songkhla

Authorities on Koh Pha Ngan have arrested five individuals for operating illegal ATV tours for foreigners, with investigations extending to an Israeli man and his Thai wife accused of masterminding the operation. The arrests were made by the Koh Phangan Tourist Police and the Immigration Office near an unfinished airport on Thong Nang-Thong Nai Pan Road, where tour guides were discovered without licenses. Officials stopped the excursion, seizing 11 ATVs, and intercepting a trip involving 15 tourists who paid 2,000 baht each.

The arrested individuals include a 19-year-old Thai lead guide, a 39-year-old Thai man, a 53-year-old Thai man, and two Burmese men aged 26 and 25. The Burmese nationals lacked both tour guide licenses and work permits. The head guide confessed to leading tours for a monthly salary of 15,000 baht, managing ATV usage, safety equipment distribution, and tourist guidance.

Thai nationals were charged under Section 86 of the Tourism Business and Guide Act for unlicensed operations, risking up to a year in prison or a 100,000 baht fine. The Burmese guides face similar penalties, alongside fines for working without permits, potential deportation, and a two-year work permit ban under Section 8 of the Foreigners’ Working Management Act.

Investigations suggest the illegal tour operations are linked to a company registered under a Thai woman, married to an Israeli man. The business reportedly targets Israeli tourists, with promotional materials in Hebrew and bookings primarily through an app. While police continue to explore the couple’s involvement, it remains unknown if they were present during the raid.

Authorities aim to press charges against the couple for employing foreigners illegally and running unlicensed tour operations. The crackdown highlights the ongoing effort to regulate and ensure lawful tourism activities on the island.

Key Takeaways

• Five individuals were arrested for conducting illegal ATV tours on Koh Pha Ngan.
• Investigations target a Thai woman and her Israeli husband for running the ops.
• The Burmese suspects face potential fines, deportation, and work bans.

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  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-10-16