Phuket: Russian and Indians overstay visa leading to police raid

A Russian national and two Indian men were apprehended during a police raid in Phuket’s Bang Thao beach district, charged with overstaying their visas. The operation was conducted by a joint team of immigration and tourist police yesterday afternoon around 1.15pm at a villa where they expected to arrest another Indian man under charges of threats and intimidation.

The Phuket Provincial Court had issued the warrant but the intended individual was not present during the raid. Instead, they encountered Georgi Shkodo, a Russian who was in the country despite an expired visa. The 33 year old was immediately taken to Cherng Talay Police Station for further inquiry while four law enforcement officers stayed behind at the villa for continued surveillance.

Things took an unexpected turn when another man, of foreign origin, emerged from the villa…