Dawn raids in Koh Samui by 700 police and soldiers

This morning at 6am 700 police and army officers carried out a dawn raid in Koh Samui. During the raid 26 individuals were targeted. Soldiers armed with machine guns were lowered onto the island from helicopters as homes around the island were raided. Some homes were raided via the roof in scenes that looked like something out of an action movie. Many of the homes owners came out looking bewildered still dressed in night attire.

According to Thai news reports the move came after the very public execution of a prominent local businessman, the 49 year old man was gunned down while having dinner in a restaurant in the popular Fishemen’s village. The shooting took place around 7-20pm during the village’s weekly walking street, hundreds of tourists were witness to the crime, authorities are gravely concerned that such acts will have a negative effect on tourism and are concerned about violent crimes on the island as a whole, specifically gun crime.

Ruengsri Travel in Bophut was among the targets this morning, however, little was recovered in the raid, only 2 bullets and a few training bullets.

However arrests have been made and an announcement is expected later today with regards to arrests made and hauls of drugs and weapons that were recovered in the raid.

Stay updated with Samui Times by following us on Facebook.