Pictures courtesy of Naewna

 

Koh Phangan tourism police in Surat Thani Province arrested 37-year-old Russian national Mikhail Shatskii, on 20 October 2025, for operating an unlicensed motorcycle and car rental service. The arrest followed a tip-off about his bamboo-shed shop on Ban Maduea Wan, along Thong Sala–Chalok Lam Road. Police conducted a sting operation with a undercover officer posing as a customer, resulting in Shatskii handing over a Mitsubishi car and 2,000 baht in cash before being detained.

 

Shatskii was unable to present a valid work permit at the scene and appeared nervous. Officers later checked his residence and found a work permit listing him as a company director, but the company’s registered address did not match the rental shop. A search of his home uncovered illegal substances, including one bag of psilocybin mushrooms, five electronic cannabis devices, nine mushroom-infused snack boxes, eight mushroom-infused chocolate boxes, ten motorcycles and one car.

 

Shatskii admitted ownership of the items, claiming they were for personal use and that he did not know they were illegal. He also admitted to running the vehicle rental business for two months without proper authorisation. Authorities charged him with four offences: operating a business without permission as a foreigner, working beyond his legal rights, possession of Class 5 narcotics (psilocybin mushrooms) for personal use and possession of undeclared imported goods (electronic cannabis devices). He was handed over to Koh Phangan Police Station for prosecution.

 

Tourism Police Chief Pol. Lt. Gen. Saksira Phueak-um urged officers at tourist destinations to intensify crackdowns on foreign nationals committing crimes, stressing that all cases should be prosecuted strictly. The aim is to maintain a safe and trustworthy environment for tourists.

 

 

Key Takeaways

 

• Russian national arrested for unlicensed vehicle rentals on Koh Phangan.

• Police seized psilocybin mushrooms, electronic cannabis devices, and vehicles.

• Authorities emphasize strict enforcement against foreign criminals in tourist areas.

 

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  Adapted by Asean Now from Naewna 2025-10-21

 

 

 

 

Foreigner operating a business in a bamboo shack is a dead giveaway.

Do the police ever look at Facebook ?? 

Can literally go on it any day and see foreigners advertising cars , bikes , villas for rent 🙄

As for the people caught doing these crimes do they ever get reported or just left to start it up again ? 🤔

On 10/21/2025 at 6:33 AM, novacova said:

Foreigner operating a business in a bamboo shack is a dead giveaway.

What was he thinking....

Someone jealous and sneeky reported and did rat on him obviously. 

 

A real impressive large scale undercover sting operation for this ? Wow....how about tackling all those drug peddlars or thieves and scammers instead ? 

Deportation!

This is what happens when you forget to distribute the brown envelopes to the right people