SURAT THANI – Two men, a Serbian and a Thai, have been arrested for selling contraband cigarettes and an American woman detained for working without permit, at a hostel on Koh Phangan.
The arrests followed complaints by local residents that a store in The Wonderlust Hostel building in tambon Ban Tai was selling smuggled cigarettes. The guests were mostly foreigners, Tourist Police Bureau chief Pol Maj Gen Saksira Pheuak-Um said.
The hostel was 50 metres from a school.
On Tuesday police arrested the hostel's owner Ivan Sain, 44, a Serbian, and hostel manager Phakorn Rungruengwiwat, 30, a Thai. They allegedly admitted selling contraband foreign cigarettes and e-cigarettes.
Police seized about 500 packs of foreign cigarettes, brands not normally sold in Thailand such as Manchester Sapphire Blue, Manchester Reserve, Basia White and Basia Red.
The suspects allegedly told police they bought the cigarettes from a Bulgarian friend, about 20,000 bahts' worth each time, and sold them to hostel guests at 100 baht a pack, and e-cigarettes at 600 baht each.
They were held in custody at Koh Phangan police station, Pol Maj Gen Saksira said.