Immigration officers on Koh Samui arrested two Lebanese nationals accused of running a restaurant as a front for drug trafficking and operating an unlicensed Chinese medicine clinic. The raid, led by Pol Col Naruewat Phutthawiro, chief of Surat Thani immigration police, took place on Saturday at the “Buffalo Jungle” restaurant in tambon Maret.
The operation involved immigration police, tourist police, local police, and public health officials, working under a search warrant issued by the Koh Samui Provincial Court. Upon entering the premises, officers found the suspects, identified as Mr. Ehab Awala, 38, and Mr. Chadi Raidan, 28, inside the restaurant.
A search revealed a large cache of narcotics, including ecstasy, methamphetamine, ketamine, cocaine, and psilocybin mushrooms, hidden inside a bedroom. Authorities also seized medical instruments such as acupuncture needles and cupping sets used in traditional Chinese medicine.
According to police, neither suspect had authorization to practise medicine in Thailand. Both men now face multiple drug-related charges. These include possession of Category 1 narcotics (ecstasy, methamphetamine), Category 2 narcotics (ketamine, cocaine), and Category 5 narcotics (psilocybin mushrooms). Mr. Awala faces additional charges under the Medical Profession Act for practising medicine without a licence.
Investigators said the “Buffalo Jungle” restaurant was formally registered as a company with three Thai shareholders alongside Mr. Awala. However, police suspect the Thai partners had little involvement in the business and may have been nominee shareholders on paper only.
Further checks revealed that Mr. Awala once served in the Lebanese military before relocating to Thailand. His background, combined with the scale of the drugs seized, has led investigators to suspect wider criminal links.
The arrests highlight ongoing concerns in Koh Samui over the use of legitimate businesses as fronts for criminal activity, particularly involving foreign nationals. Authorities have vowed to step up inspections of restaurants, bars, and wellness businesses operating on the island to ensure compliance with Thai law.
Both suspects remain in custody as the investigation continues, with police working to determine whether more individuals are involved in the network.
