Koh Samui News
Koh Samui news, tourism, business, and nightlife—stay updated with breaking stories, local events, and expat insights from Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, and Koh Tao. Get the latest from The Thaiger, your trusted island news source.
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Thai man claims gun fires accidentally and hits pregnant wife
A Thai man shot his pregnant wife at a house in Bo Phut, Koh Samui, and claimed that the gun discharged accidentally while he was attempting to take his own life. Officers from Bo Phut Police Station investigated the shooting at a single-storey house in Bo Phut subdistrict, Koh Samui district, Surat Thani, yesterday, March 31. The incident occurred in…
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Koh Samui and Koh Pha Ngan ferry fares increase after fuel price jump
Travellers heading to Koh Samui and Koh Pha Ngan now face higher ferry fares after a sharp hike in fuel prices across Thailand prompted a ferry operator in Surat Thani province to raise ticket prices. Seatran Ferry, which operates services between Don Sak Pier in the mainland of Surat Thani and the two islands, first announced a fare adjustment on…
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British man dies after motorcycle crash on Koh Samui
A 23 year old British man died at a hospital in Bangkok after suffering severe injuries in a motorcycle crash on Koh Samui, Surat Thani, and spending nearly three weeks in critical condition. The British national, Tiger Duggan, suffered a serious head injury after another motorcycle allegedly knocked him down as he was overtaking a car on a road on Koh…
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Funds raised after British tourist critically injured in Koh Samui motorcycle crash
The family of a British man launched a fundraising campaign after he was left in critical condition following a serious motorcycle accident on Koh Samui, an island in Surat Thani province, Thailand. The victim, Tiger Duggan, a 23 year old British national, travelled to Thailand with a friend to celebrate his birthday. According to his family, they arrived in the country…
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Russian man found dead on beach below Koh Samui viewpoint
A Russian tourist was found dead on a beach below a viewpoint on Koh Samui in Surat Thani province, with police believing the incident was most likely an accident. The body was discovered on yesterday, February 5, after another foreign tourist encountered the remains on a beach beneath Na Phralan Viewpoint on Koh Samui. The witness immediately contacted officers from…
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Danish man steals land deeds from Chinese victim on Koh Samui
Police arrested a Danish man after he stole a safe containing land and property documents worth around 100 million baht from a luxury villa owned by a Chinese national on Koh Samui before fleeing to Krabi. The Chinese victim filed a complaint with Bor Phud Police Station after discovering that a safe was stolen from the luxury villa in Soi Khao…
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Russian extortion suspect caught relaxing at Koh Samui luxury hotel
Police arrested a Russian man on the resort island of Koh Samui in Surat Thani yesterday, January 8, for extorting 1 million rubles, or nearly 400,000 baht, from a car dealership chief executive in Russia. The arrest followed a request for cooperation from the Russian Embassy in Thailand, which asked Thai authorities to help locate and detain the suspect, identified…
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French tourist dies after slipping from fifth tier of Koh Samui waterfall
A French tourist died after slipping and falling from the fifth tier of a waterfall on Koh Samui in Surat Thani province while taking selfies with his girlfriend. The woman narrowly escaped the fatal accident. Officers from Koh Samui Police Station rushed to Na Muang 2 Waterfall yesterday, January 5, after receiving a report of the fall. The victim was…
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3 British nationals illegally run bar on Koh Samui using Thai nominees
Three British nationals linked to the illegal operation of an entertainment venue on Koh Samui, an island in Surat Thani province, with two Thai women acting as nominees. Surat Thani Immigration officers yesterday, November 26, filed a complaint at Bo Phut Police Station against 60 year old British woman Maxine Lisa Schwander and two Thai women, Ladda and Jirichuda. Schwander…
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British man attacks French tourist in Samui love spat
A 44 year old British man was arrested on Koh Samui after allegedly assaulting a French tourist and his Thai girlfriend during a hotel altercation over suspected jealousy. The incident occurred around noon yesterday, November 19, at a hotel in Bo Phut, Surat Thani Province. Officers from Bo Phut Police Station responded to reports of a violent altercation and arrived…
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Foreign fugitive arrested on Koh Samui over fake ticket scam
Thai immigration officers arrested an Israeli man on Koh Samui, wanted for an alleged online ticket scam, following a joint operation with foreign police. The 30 year old suspect, identified only as Abudyan, was detained by Surat Thani Immigration officers after authorities tracked him to a hotel in the popular Chaweng area. He had been staying there since November 10…
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Late-night earthquake rattles Koh Samui, no damage reported
A minor earthquake struck Koh Samui overnight, shaking homes and alarming residents across several areas, with reports of loud noises and repeated tremors. The quake, measuring 2.4 on the Richter scale, struck Koh Samui in Surat Thani province early today, November 13, sending tremors across the island and waking startled residents. The quake occurred at 12.47am at a shallow depth…
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No escape: Thai police catch foreign fugitive fleeing Koh Samui
A foreign man wanted for armed robbery was arrested at a Thai airport as he attempted to flee Koh Samui, following a tip-off from embassy officials. Thai immigration officers have arrested a 22 year old Israeli man wanted in connection with a violent home invasion in Israel. The fugitive, identified as Farhi, was intercepted at Koh Samui International Airport as…
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Turkish restaurant hits back at claims it threw out Israeli tourists
A restaurant on Koh Samui has spoken out to deny claims that it removed Israeli tourists, saying staff were not involved in the incident. The drama kicked off after a now-viral post circulated online accusing the venue of ejecting a group of Israeli diners in protest against Israel’s actions in Gaza. The post, shared via social media channels including Instagram…
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Samui restaurant faces backlash for booting Israeli tourists (video)
A restaurant on Koh Samui is under fire after a social media post claimed it removed a group of Israeli diners, igniting heated debate and divided reactions online. The now-viral post, attributed to the venue, claimed the decision was a stance against Israel’s actions in Gaza, using strong language to criticise the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF). It said: “We must…
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‘White Lotus’ stars wow Emmys with glowing praise for Thailand (video)
Stars of The White Lotus praised Thailand at the Emmy Awards, sharing their love for its beauty and cuisine after filming the show’s third season there. Thailand took centre stage at the 77th Emmy Awards when The White Lotus Season 3 stars Walton Goggins and Parker Posey shared heartfelt praise for the country, drawing applause from the Hollywood audience. The…
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2 Lebanese men arrested for drug and illegal clinic on Koh Samui
Police arrested two Lebanese men for illegally operating a clinic and supplying drugs to foreign tourists on Koh Samui, an island in the southern province of Surat Thani. Officers from the Surat Thani Provincial Immigration Bureau, Koh Samui Tourist Police, Bor Phud Police Station, and the Koh Samui Public Health Department raided a restaurant on Lamai Beach in the Maret…
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Koh Samui thief nailed by GPS hidden in stolen fan
A brazen thief on Koh Samui thought he could get away with snatching a fan under the cover of darkness—until a hidden GPS tracker led police straight to his door. Police in Koh Samui, Surat Thani province, arrested a man after a stolen fan equipped with a GPS device exposed his hiding place in a labour camp. The drama unfolded…
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Aussie lawyer’s massage ends in mystery after powder discovery
An Aussie lawyer’s late-night massage on the Thai island of Koh Samui ended not only in tragedy, but in mystery too, after police found him dead with a bag of white powder in his pocket. Christopher Saines, a prominent Brisbane lawyer and CEO of GLG Legal, was discovered unresponsive at the Siam Touch Massage parlour in Bo Phut at around…
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Aussie tourist found dead after late-night massage on Koh Samui
A barefoot Aussie holidaymaker was found dead in a Koh Samui massage parlour, hours after staff assumed he’d simply nodded off following a midnight rubdown. The 43 year old man, identified only as Christopher from Brisbane, was discovered lifeless in the early hours of Sunday, July 7, at a massage shop in Bo Phut, on the Thai holiday island. Police…
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Spanish family rescued after boat capsizes off Koh Samui
A terrifying incident unfolded off the coast of Koh Samui as a tourist boat carrying a Spanish family of four capsized and sank in the middle of the sea. Fortunately, quick-thinking rescuers saved the family after they were left floating helplessly in the water. The incident occurred yesterday, July 1 at around 11.30am, as a long-tailed boat carrying a group…
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Bangkok and Koh Samui lead Europe’s summer getaways
Thailand has once again emerged as the number one summer destination for European tourists, with Bangkok topping the charts as the most popular spot. The country has held this coveted title for the past two years, according to a survey by the online booking platform Agoda. The survey revealed that a significant number of European visitors to Thailand hail from…
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Top 5 kid-friendly experiences on Koh Samui
Experiencing Koh Samui with kids may just offer an adventure of a lifetime. The award-winning island, located in the Gulf of Thailand, features many educational activities set against the backdrop of a tropical paradise, Ann Carter writes. The island’s kid-friendly establishments focus on educational opportunities that blend a sense of community, nature-themed activities, and creative outlets. Koh Samui is where…
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Elephants find freedom and healing at Thailand’s Samui sanctuary
In the lush greenery of Koh Samui’s Bo Phut district, two elephants have discovered the ultimate way to beat the sizzling May heat: cooling off in a pool and rolling in mud at the Samui Elephant Sanctuary. Kaew Ta and Kham Phean, both in their mid-60s, enjoy this peaceful retirement after years of harsh labour in logging and tourism. The…
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Frenchman busted on Koh Pha Ngan with drug and weapon haul
A Frenchman known for flashing weapons at a Koh Pha Ngan hotel has been arrested after police uncovered a stash of illicit drugs, while a Russian woman was caught selling banned e-cigarettes on nearby Koh Samui. Tourist police and Koh Pha Ngan officers raided the KPG Suite Dream hotel in Ban Tai around 4pm on Thursday, May 22, after receiving…
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Island horror: Man arrested in nurse’s tragic Koh Samui murder
Police arrested a man on suspicion of murdering a nurse at her welfare accommodation on the island of Koh Samui, in the southern province of Surat Thani. The man is believed to be a neighbour of the victim. The 36 year old nurse, Aunchuree “Nook” Wongmueang, failed to report for work yesterday, May 21, prompting her colleagues to visit her…
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Thai nurse found dead in underwear in Koh Samui welfare room
Police are hunting for a killer after a Thai nurse was found dead in welfare accommodation on Koh Samui, an island in the southern province of Surat Thani.. Colleagues of the 36 year old nurse, Aunchuree Wongmueang, were unable to contact her and went to check on her at her room today, May 21, in the Green Park Village, located…
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Shroom with a view: Israeli busted in Samui magic mushroom sting
Another Israeli tourist has landed in hot water after being busted in a late-night sting on Koh Samui, this time for allegedly flogging hallucinogenic mushrooms out of a beachside cannabis shop. Thailand’s patience with unruly foreign visitors is wearing thin and a fresh scandal on Koh Samui has only added fuel to the fire. Police in Surat Thani arrested a…
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Motorcycle taxi rider arrested for murder and robbery of old woman
Police today arrested a motorcycle taxi rider for the murder and robbery of an elderly woman in the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat. The suspect was apprehended while hiding on Koh Samui in Surat Thani province. The lifeless body of the missing woman, 89 year old Nin, was discovered inside a fertiliser sack in a grassland area along Terd Phrakiat…
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White lines, don’t do it! British man nabbed in drugs & visa overstay
A British man’s island joyride ended in handcuffs in Koh Samui after he reportedly tried to dodge a police stop, only to be caught with drugs in his bag and an expired visa in his passport. What started as a routine patrol turned into a high-speed chase through the streets of Koh Samui after a British man gave police the…
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