Skip to content
View in the app

A better way to browse. Learn more.

Thailand News and Discussion Forum | ASEANNOW

A full-screen app on your home screen with push notifications, badges and more.

To install this app on iOS and iPadOS
  1. Tap the Share icon in Safari
  2. Scroll the menu and tap Add to Home Screen.
  3. Tap Add in the top-right corner.
To install this app on Android
  1. Tap the 3-dot menu (⋮) in the top-right corner of the browser.
  2. Tap Add to Home screen or Install app.
  3. Confirm by tapping Install.

German Captain Arrested for Illegal Yacht Tours in Phuket

Featured Replies

A German captain was arrested aboard a luxury sailing yacht in Phuket, accused of running an illegal tour operation in the Andaman Sea. Authorities discovered high-priced multi-day packages had been sold to foreign tourists without a license. The arrest, made on March 12, 2026, followed a five-month investigation involving marine police and tourism authorities.

Get today's headlines by email subscribe-orange.png

The operation allegedly used a yacht charter company as a front, targeting German travelers through an online platform. The yacht was inspected and found carrying six German tourists, who had booked an 11-day tour via a website. The company claimed to be a yacht rental business but was accused of running unlicensed tours instead.

Tourists paid hundreds of thousands of baht each for the trip, unaware the company lacked a tourism business license. The captain faces charges under the Tourism Business and Guide Act of 2008 and the Navigation in Thai Waters Act of 1992. The broader investigation revealed similar operations using nominee shareholders to disguise unlicensed tour businesses.

Authorities are continuing their investigation to identify and prosecute other operators involved in illegal tourism practices, which they say undermine legal Thai businesses. The Department of Tourism emphasized the crackdown aims to protect both Thailand’s tourism image and visitor safety. Moving forward, the focus will be on ensuring compliance with marine tourism regulations, reported The Nation.

Join the discussion? Create account. orange.png

Already a member? haveyr-say.png

image.png  Adapted by ASEAN Now · The Nation · 13 Mar 2026


View full article

As often in Thailand, some of the worst scammers in many fields of services are westerners.

Create an account or sign in to comment

Recently Browsing 1

Account

Navigation

Search

Search

Configure browser push notifications

Chrome (Android)
  1. Tap the lock icon next to the address bar.
  2. Tap Permissions → Notifications.
  3. Adjust your preference.
Chrome (Desktop)
  1. Click the padlock icon in the address bar.
  2. Select Site settings.
  3. Find Notifications and adjust your preference.