isn't it an offence also to hire someone without a valid work permit? Why wasn't the shop owner charged also? Would like to know a little more, was he receiving a wage or just helping out the g/f's family? Not much of a story with just 3 short lines.

Maybe this is part of the crackdown on the Russian Mafia and all offenders have now been captured.

It's just a show from the authorities that they mean what they said ... they will catch a few of these idiots doing basically nothing else but trying to sell some small souvenirs, some weird clothes and idiotic spa products to tourists to get a daily meal and then they will call it a day and be proud that they accomplished a full crack down and that all is now under control .... They can't even phanthom who and how to go after the big guys but have to show something after all the publicity of DSI and all nah>>///??? ... Oye they are all so useless

Take a good look at this photo, people.

This is the true face of crime on Phuket.

A Russian working in a shop, selling souvenirs.

So......this is worse than the tuk-tuk scams, is it?

So......this is worse than the tuk-tuk scams, is it?

By far!

He does not charge 10 times the price, speaks Russian and possibly English, Does not fall asleep, does not play facebook all day long and worst of all comes to work every day

Take a good look at this photo, people.

This is the true face of crime on Phuket.

A Russian working in a shop, selling souvenirs.

So......this is worse than the tuk-tuk scams, is it?

Definately. It's not the tuk-tuk rip off and the jet ski scam effecting tourists, it's the few young Russians using their native tongue, and english, to sell some souvenirs and day trips, on behalf of Thai's, that are having such a negative impact on the tourism industry here. :)

They are tarnishing Phuket's image. :)