SURAT THANI: Police have raided a large Russian-owned vehicle rental company on Koh Phangan, seizing hundreds of motorcycles and cars and making seven arrests.
Those held included a Russian man and a Thai woman suspected of being a nominee fronting for another Russian, the actual owner, living in Phuket.
A team of tourist, immigration and local police and officials raided the vehicle rental business, which operated out of Centre Point Market in tambon Koh Phangan, on Tuesday evening.
The action followed complaints from foreign tourists that the company had held their passports as collateral for car rentals and refused to return deposits.
Residents had also questioned the legality of the business, which allegedly operated without proper licences and employed foreigners without work permits, Pol Maj Gen Krit Warit, deputy chief of the Tourist Police Bureau said on Wednesday.
At the shop police found a Thai woman, identified as Thanyanich, 39, working as a shop attendant. A Russian national, Valerii Belomyttcev, also 39, was also present and appeared to be managing customer services.
Five Myanmar nationals, three men and two women, were also employed on the premises, serving as cleaners and customer service staff, Pol Maj Gen Krit said.
All were detained for questioning.
Investigators said the company had two registered shareholders, Ms Thanyanich and a Russian living in Phuket.
However, Ms Thanyanich was found to have no financial involvement in the business and was suspected of being a Thai nominee fronting for the real owner.
Pol Maj Gen Krit said they found about 400 motorcycles of various sizes on the premises along with 20 cars and numerous spare parts.
Initial inquiries suggested some of the motorbikes had been reported stolen on Koh Phangan.
The tourist police deputy commander said the company also offered daily accommodation for rent without having a hotel licence, and ran an unauthorised garage where vehicles were dismantled for parts and modified.
