Israeli man arrested in Bangkok over 2,095-day overstay and crystal meth possession

Bangkok police arrested a 54-year-old Israeli man identified as Tomer at a condominium in Huai Khwang on October 23, 2026, accusing him of overstaying his permission to remain in Thailand by 2,095 days and jointly possessing crystal methamphetamine. A 44-year-old Thai woman was also arrested.

Police said officers recovered drugs, cake suspected of containing narcotics and a mobile phone holding numerous secretly recorded videos of sexual encounters. Tomer denied that the crystal methamphetamine belonged to him.

Police identify charges against both suspects

Police identified the second suspect as Phatchanok, a Thai national registered as living in Huai Khwang, Bangkok. Both suspects’ surnames were withheld.

Tomer, also known by the nickname “Tom Yum Kung”, faces four charges, according to police:

- Jointly possessing Category 1 narcotics, specifically crystal methamphetamine, without permission.

- Remaining in Thailand for 2,095 days after his permission to stay expired.

- Refusing a drug examination or test conducted by an authorised narcotics-control officer.

- Failing, without reasonable cause or excuse, to comply with a lawful order despite being aware of it.

Police said Phatchanok was charged with jointly possessing Category 1 narcotics without permission and unlawfully using methamphetamine.

Officers list drugs, cake and phone among seized items

Police said the search of the condominium on Pracha Uthit Road, in Huai Khwang subdistrict and district, yielded five categories of evidence:

1. Fifteen grammes of crystal methamphetamine.

2. Fifty bags described as packaging for crystal methamphetamine.

3. One weighing scale.

4. One tray of cake suspected of containing narcotics.

5. One mobile phone, which officers said contained drug-trading information and numerous secretly recorded videos of sexual encounters.

Police said material on the seized phone indicated purchases of drugs for resale and included recordings involving several women on a sofa inside the room. Tomer denied ownership of the drugs found during the operation.

Hotline tip led police to Huai Khwang condominium

The Metropolitan Police Bureau’s narcotics suppression centre began investigating after the Bangkok office of the Office of the Narcotics Control Board passed on a tip received through its 1386 hotline, according to police.

The tip described an Israeli man with an eagle tattoo on his upper left arm who allegedly contacted women through dating apps and invited them to his condominium.

According to the hotline allegation relayed by police, women felt flushed and sexually aroused after eating cake prepared by the man, before having sex and being secretly filmed. Investigators suspected that the cake contained narcotics.

Pol Maj Gen Teeradej Thumsutee, deputy commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau responsible for narcotics suppression, directed the investigation and led officers from the bureau’s narcotics suppression centre and Subdivision 4 of the Immigration Bureau’s Investigation Division.

Police said investigators identified Tomer and checked his immigration status with the immigration unit, which reported a 2,095-day overstay. Officers subsequently located his room in Huai Khwang.

Investigators said Tomer had no apparent regular employment, spent most of his time inside the room and nevertheless had money for daily expenses. Police also reported seeing several women entering and leaving the property.

The police account named national police chief Pol Gen Samran Nualma, deputy national police chief Pol Gen Itthipol Atchariyapradit, assistant national police chief Pol Lt Gen Krisda Kanchana-alongkorn, Metropolitan Police Bureau commissioner Pol Lt Gen Siam Boonsom and Immigration Bureau commissioner Pol Lt Gen Nopasin Poolsawat as supervising the operation.

Tomer claimed that an influential figure could intervene on his behalf and threatened to have the entire arresting team transferred.