Pictures courtesy of Amarin

 

Authorities on Koh Phangan seized nearly 400 cars and motorcycles from a rental company after discovering it operated without proper business licenses. The operation, carried out on 21 October 2025, involved seven arrests, including foreign nationals working illegally. The company also offered daily hotel accommodations without registration, prompting further investigation.

 

The raid followed complaints from tourists that their passports had been withheld by the rental firm. Acting on these reports, the Tourism Police, local administrative authorities, Koh Phangan police and other agencies launched a coordinated inspection of the company in Moo 1, Koh Phangan, Surat Thani. Officers discovered one Thai employee managing the premises, a Russian staff member assisting customers and five Myanmar workers performing maintenance and housekeeping duties.

 

The seized vehicles are under investigation for potential links to multiple reported motorcycle thefts in the area. Among those arrested were Mr Valerii, 39, a Russian national charged with illegal foreign employment, and six others, including Myanmar nationals and a Thai woman, charged with unlicensed work or running a hotel without approval. Officials are examining the origins of the vehicles to determine possible criminal connections.

 

The company was registered with two shareholders, one Thai and one Russian. Authorities noted the Thai shareholder had no investment involvement and only managed internal operations. The Russian shareholder, currently residing in Phuket, is reportedly a real estate investor. Police will investigate whether the firm operated as a nominee business.

 

This case represents one of the largest Russian-operated rental networks on Koh Phangan. The investigation spanned over four months before culminating in the recent raid, reflecting efforts to tackle cross-border crime and unlicensed businesses in the region. Authorities plan to continue inspections and trace any criminal links of the seized assets.

 

 

Key Takeaways

 

• Nearly 400 vehicles were seized from an unlicensed rental firm on Koh Phangan.

• Seven individuals, including foreign nationals, were arrested for illegal work and operating unlicensed businesses.

• Police will investigate the origins of the vehicles and potential nominee company arrangements.

 

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  Adapted by Asean Now from Amarin 2025-10-23

 

 

 

 

How could anyone possibly think they could run an illegal business this size without coming under scrutiny? Even brown envelopes can't paper this over completely.

Russian mafia thinking they areback home 

400 😳😳😳

On 10/23/2025 at 5:07 AM, HappyExpat57 said:

Even brown envelopes can't paper this over completely.

But they may - even at this stage - alleviate the punishment.

On 10/23/2025 at 5:53 AM, ozz1 said:

Russian mafia thinking they areback home 

Their new home....

Don't worry we do this all the time the people advising you who help set up the business.  Yeah, not their money or business to lose.  I've personally received the Don't worry advice.  I am good at research and am not easily fooled into dumping a bunch of money, time, and effort into something without being educated on the pitfalls and risks.

I feel bad for the workers from Myanmar, when you think of what it's like back home. They come here to work for substandard wages at menial jobs. I hope they don't get deported, that would be worse than prison.

1 hour ago, Jonathan Swift said:

I feel bad for the workers from Myanmar, when you think of what it's like back home. They come here to work for substandard wages at menial jobs. I hope they don't get deported, that would be worse than prison.

The substand wage here is nearly three times the standard wage in Myanmar.

It's why they come here.

300 baht here, about 115 baht in Myanmar. A day. Myanmar also does wage auctioning. Who will work for 115 baht? who for 100 baht? who for 75 baht? Obviously they are using kyat not baht, but the numbers are the rough equivalents

 

Guess who gets the job.

Drain the swamp

1 minute ago, Stocky said:

Drain the swamp

Chuck 'em in the swamp.

400 vehicles, and just now take action??  

 

They probably didn't get that big overnight, and I'd guess someone russian thug got on the wrong side of immi.

What an amazing idiot.Well..i think his visa is rewoked now and that's the smallest problem he have now.

 

1 hour ago, emptypockets said:

The substand wage here is nearly three times the standard wage in Myanmar.

It's why they come here.

300 baht here, about 115 baht in Myanmar. A day. Myanmar also does wage auctioning. Who will work for 115 baht? who for 100 baht? who for 75 baht? Obviously they are using kyat not baht, but the numbers are the rough equivalents

 

Guess who gets the job.

 

   The one with the empty pockets ?

He is probably the tip of the iceberg involved in illegal businesses in Thailand 🤑

Plenty more  around if the Thai authorities look harder 😱

400 vehicles! That is a massive operation, not easy to hide and not your typical local bizz with a dozen or so bikes/cars. It must have been a nice, big, deep trough for the corrupt boys in brown.

This illegal thug operation is in the DNA of Russians. Possibly/probably stolen vehicles? Look for your passport back? Look, a scratch (probably 6 months old)- that'll be 20 000 Baht. 

Dreadful people,  those Russians. 

Who cares what other people are doing?

Just keep your nose clean.

 

 

When / IF  it gets to court, it will be 4 motor bikes and two cars.

T.I.T. 

Why be so stupid to give your passport  

there are many legal car rental places in Thailand just need to pay a some upfront for maybe damage ,

if you do all risk insurance it is no need to do anything just pay and go

never use your passport as  a deposit  

look after this document it saves massive headaches  even at hotels give and take back never leave in the check in  

if they say the busy then say i wait  ,

Do the correct things in Thailand and stay legal  it might keep u alive and save you a mass of money  

 

we all know there is enough Corruption Wy create   more .

 

   

 

 

If your car or motorbike was stolen check this shop...

does anybody knows where those vehicles are (going to be) sold ? 

Out-of-control Ivan by the look of it... the usual dodgy Russkies at it again.

However, must agree with the previous posts that when an operation like this gets too big somewhere so small like Koh Phangan, then it's going to get noticed and reeled in. Reserved line of business this one is... Thais only.

 

A bit too big to fly under the radar.

So, now the local plod have 400 bikes and cars to rent out  

Send them straight to Ukraine