Hostel caught selling smuggled cigarettes on Koh Phangan

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In: South-East Asia

Discussed: 12 Feb 2025 at 11: 40

Phangan tourist police arrest three suspects and seize about 500 packs of contraband foreign cigarettes at a hostel on Koh Phangan, Surat Thani, on Tuesday. (Photo: supplied/ Assawin Pakkawan)
On Tuesday, the Phangan holiday authorities detained three suspects and seized roughly 500 packs of illegal foreign cigarettes from a hostel in Surat Thani, Koh Phangan. ( Photo: supplied / Assawin Pakkawan )

A Spanish and a Thai man have been detained for selling illegal cigarettes, and an American woman has been detained for working without a force at a hostel in Koh Phangan. &nbsp,

Local residents complained that a business in the Wonderlust Hostel tower in Tambon Ban Tai was selling seized smoking, prompting the detention. The customers were mainly immigrants, Tourist Police Bureau key Pol Maj Gen Saksira Pheuak-Um said.

The dormitory was 50 yards from a university.

On Tuesday officers arrested the hostel’s user Ivan Sain, 44, a Serb, and dormitory director Phakorn Rungruengwiwat, 30, a Thai. They reportedly admitted to selling illegal foreign e-cigarettes and tobacco.

Authorities seized about 500 packages of unusual smoking, manufacturers no usually sold in Thailand such as Manchester Sapphire Blue, Manchester Reserve, Basia White and Basia Red.

The suspects allegedly told authorities they bought the cigarettes from a Russian companion, about 20, 000 bahts ‘ value each day, and sold them to dormitory guests at 100 baht a pack, and e-cigarettes at 600 bass each. &nbsp,

Ashley Marie Amendola, 23, was also detained during the raid for working as a receptionist at the hostel without a permit.

She claimed that Mr. Sain gave her a free meal and lodging deal. &nbsp,

According to Pol Maj Gen Saksira, the three suspects were being held in custody at the Koh Phangan police station. &nbsp,