British, American and Australian tourists arrested at 'drug-fuelled party' in Thailand during COVID-19 lockdown

British, American and Australian tourists arrested at 'drug-fuelled party' in Thailand during COVID-19 lockdown

This is the moment police arrested three British tourists at a drug-fuelled party during the coronavirus lockdown on Wednesday (April 1) The men, named by police as George Oliver Hoskins, 23, Saul Ala

This is the moment police arrested three British tourists at a drug-fuelled party during the coronavirus lockdown on Wednesday (April 1) The men, named by police as George Oliver Hoskins, 23, Saul Alan Jones, 22, and Stuart Alexander McDonogh, 29, were among nine foreigners and five Thai women partying in Phuket, Thailand.

It was in defiance of a strict curfew and lockdown on the coronavirus-ravaged island, which is one of the worst hit Covid-19 areas of Thailand.

Pictures show how the women were wearing skimpy bikinis and the lads were in swimming shorts in a small, hot room.

Officers stormed in and also allegedly found cocaine and cannabis at the sordid roof-top party, which was in violation of an 8pm curfew on the island.

Police said they raided the party after furious locals complained that they were being disturbed by the noise.

It was also in violation of an emergency government act banning crowds due to the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus.

Fourteen partygoers were arrested including three British men, an Australian man, one American man, one Ukrainian man, three Ukrainian women and five Thai women.

The Australian national was Al-Mouzafar Mohamad, 22 and the American man was Russell Robertson, 32.

The Ukrainians were Zakharov Andrii, 27, Petriv Tetiana, 22, Chala Anasiia, 22, and Semko Iana, 31.

Officers also allegedly found six bottles of liquor, one bottle of energy drink and two bottles of soda drink and also confiscated 4.04grams of marijuana and 0.94 grams of cocaine.

Police Colonel Aekanit Danpitaksars said said the 14 revellers were remanded in custody while the case is processed and they can be sent to court.

The police chief said: "Initially, they will be charged for violating the royal state of emergency act by gathering in a crowd in a small space and possessing schedule II and V drug." The five Thai women were Nida Usen, 31, Boonchanok Roongruang, 36, Supika Kitdee, 28, Narumon Thuadao, 23, and Wararin Jaidee, 33.

Phuket - one of the world's most popular tourist resorts - is now ranked the fourth most infected province in Thailand with 71 confirmed, behind only Bangkok and its two metropolitan areas.

Phuket has taken strict measure to contain Covid-19 and announced a lockdown and curfew from 8pm until 3am on Monday (30/03).

Land and sea travel to and from the island has been banned until April 31 and flights will stop from April 10 onwards.