Illegal arms, public sex: Israelis arrested in Thailand tourist hotspots

An Israeli tourist was arrested in Thailand on Thursday when authorities discovered ammunition in his luggage, according to Thai media.

Security at Phuket International Airport found a magazine containing 29 5.56 military-grade bullets in the 26-year-old  traveller's luggage.

The passenger, who has not been named, was preparing to board a flight to Koh Samui, also in southern Thailand. He was later charged with illegal possession of ammunition that cannot be legally licensed in Thailand, the Thai Examiner reported..

Under Thai law, the charge carries a prison term of up to ten years, as well as fines of up to 2000 THB ($620).

The incident is the latest in a wave of offences committed by Israeli tourists in Thailand.

Just days before the arrest, Israel's ambassador to Thailand and the governor of Surat Thani province met to discuss the ongoing issues involving Israeli nationals.

In recent weeks, local businesses and residents of Surat Thani filed a petition urging authorities to tackle "Israeli activities causing distress to local communities".

On Wednesday, an Israeli couple were arrested in Surat Thani after engaging in sex acts at the Wang Sai waterfall, Thaiger news reported. The couple allegedly carried out the acts despite the presence of other tourists, some of whom recorded the incident and shared them on social media.

The incident sparked outrage among locals, prompting Koh Pha Ngan District Chief Suriya Boonphan to launch an investigation to locate the couple.

The man and woman were detained on 5 November, and admitted to having sex at the waterfall.

The couple were then charged with "jointly committing a shameful act in public by exposing their bodies or engaging in obscene behaviour".

In an unrelated incident earlier this month, Thai authorities apprehended 22-year-old Israeli citizen Osher Farhi, who is wanted in his home country in connection to armed robbery.

Incidents of Israelis clashing with locals have also gone viral on social media, with one video shared in May showing an Israeli tourist shouting at a restaurant employee.

After the employee told the tourist that she was not welcome, the Israeli said: "My money builds your country."

An estimated 460,000 Israelis visit Thailand every year, according to Israel's ambassador to the country. Amid Israel's genocide in Gaza, some Israelis have also chosen the Southeast Asian nation as a destination for rehab retreats - including many who participated in the Gaza onslaught.

In January, the Hind Rajab Foundation urged Thai authorities to detain Omri Nir, who is one of hundreds of Israelis subject to a war crimes complaint filed at the International Criminal Court (ICC) by the organisation.