A Spanish man and a Peruvian woman have been arrested, charged, blacklisted and deported from Thailand after being filmed engaging in oral sex aboard a moving tuk-tuk in Phuket’s Patong area.
The 41-year-old Spanish national, identified as Mr Ruben, and the 43-year-old Peruvian woman, Ms Cynthia, were captured on video on Sunday, May 3, as the open-air vehicle travelled through busy streets in tambon Patong, Kathu district. The 49-second clip, shared on a local Facebook page, showed the woman positioned on the floor of the tuk-tuk while the man was seated with his legs outstretched. The footage was recorded by a Thai motorcyclist following behind, who was heard saying, “Patong always has this kind of thing. This is the first time encountering something like this by myself. Can you just wait until arriving at a hotel?”
The video quickly circulated online, drawing widespread criticism from locals and social media users who questioned why the driver allowed the behaviour to continue in public. Patong police, working with Phuket Immigration officers, tracked down the couple at 8:30pm on Monday, May 4. When presented with photographic evidence, both admitted to being the individuals in the video.
Police charged them with “jointly committing an act that is likely to cause public embarrassment by exposing or revealing their bodies, or committing other indecent acts” under Thai law. The offence carries a maximum fine of 5,000 baht. Immigration authorities then revoked their permission to stay, placed them on a blacklist and expedited deportation proceedings.
Officials said the conduct damaged Thailand’s tourism image and public morality. “This action was intended to safeguard Thailand’s beautiful cultural values,” the prime minister’s office stated, adding that visitors displaying “inappropriate behaviour” would face prosecution as it “contradicts the beautiful culture of Thailand.”
The case is the latest in a series of public indecency incidents involving foreign tourists in Phuket. In April, a French couple was deported after footage of them having sex on a Phuket beach went viral, while another French pair was blacklisted earlier this year for a similar tuk-tuk incident. Authorities say checks on entertainment venues will now be stricter as part of a broader clampdown on tourist conduct.
