Eighteen foreign tourists have been arrested by Thai police today in breach of state of emergency regulations for partying in a rented house on Phangan Island, host to the infamous full-moon parties.
Police, from the Koh Pha-ngan police station in the Surat Thani province of Thailand, arrived at the house after a tip-off from the village leader, claiming several foreign tourists frequently gathered for drink session.
When the police arrived at the scene they found 17 motorcycles parked in front of the house and heard loud music coming from inside the residence. Police then went through the building and discovered liquor bottles, an electronic laptop and on second floor sound system. No illegal items have been identified.
The house's Russian occupant said he had merely invited a few friends over for a drink and talk.
Police then accompanied foreigners to the police station, including the owner, to be charged with breaching the ban on social events, meant to keep COVID-19 from spreading.
Meanwhile, the spokesperson for the Royal Thai Police Pol Col Krisaana Pattanacharoen claimed today that over 7,000 individuals have been detained over the past two weeks for breaching the night-time curfew.
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