Four foreign suspects have been arrested in connection with illegal activities ranging from illegal cannabis production to luxury car rental fraud.
Senior police officials, including Pol Maj Gen Pornchai Khajornklin, Deputy Commander of Region 8 Police, and Pol Maj Gen Sinlert Sukhum, Commander of Phuket Provincial Police, announced the operation during a press conference at Phuket Provincial Police headquarters.yesterday (May 26).
The raids stemmed from expanded investigations into previous arrests involving foreign nationals operating businesses illegally through Thai nominees, said Pol Maj Gen Sinlert.
Among the key targets was a Chinese-led criminal group accused of using untraceable funds to run luxury car rentals under the name ‘GRQ Alphard Club’.
The suspects allegedly purchased high-end vehicles such as Toyota Alphards and advertised rental services to international clients via social media, undermining legitimate local businesses, he added.
Pol Maj Gen Sinlert explained that warrants were issued for seven individuals linked to the group.
Two Chinese suspects have been arrested, while four others are believed to have fled Thailand. The remaining suspect is still being pursued, he said.
The crackdown also extended to a gang linked to a high-profile crypto theft involving Australian nationals.
Police identified ‘Mr Billy’ as the alleged ringleader, and raided several properties believed to be connected to his operations, including a cannabis cultivation site, a bud boutique, a tattoo parlour and a residence in the Patong area.
‘Mr Billy’ has been widely reported as Australian Vasilios Pilarinos, also known as Peter Vasilios, whose arrest has drawn scrutiny due to allegations of Pilarinos’s connections to Melbourne underworld figures.
Further in a separate raid, officers searched a car rental business, eDrive Rental, in the Cherng Talay area. This raid followed the arrest of an Israeli national illegally running a car rental company in Koh Samui, explained Pol Maj Gen Pornchai.
One Russian suspect was detained, and authorities seized nine cars and 46 motorcycles for investigation.
Additionally, police and officials from the Phuket Provincial Public Health Office shut down an illegal cannabis extraction facility.
Although officially owned by a Thai national, investigators believe the business was foreign-backed and used Thai nominees to operate under the radar. Officers confiscated approximately 200 cannabis extract products and related equipment, Pol Maj Gen Pornchai continued.
“This operation is only the beginning,” said Pol Maj Gen Pornchai. “We are now moving into the next phase. The upcoming case will be even larger, and we are determined to dismantle foreign mafia networks that are not only breaking the law but also taking job opportunities from Thai citizens.”