Russian Quack Caught in Phuket
Phuket's Unlicensed 'Doc' bust:
Meet Viktoria, a 33-year-old Russian woman with a nose for raw dealings. Last week, she was cuffed on Phuket's sun-kissed shores, thanks to the Phuket tourist police undercover squad. The reason for the arrest? Funny you should ask, bucko!
Viktoria was peddling unlicensed medical treatments, lurking in the shadows of the island's thriving tourist scene. The operation that brought her down was a sneaky yet fitting takedown, started following whispers of a foreign-native advertising medical services online. Foreigners looking for instant cures flocked to her bait, unaware of the potential risks she presented.
Sharp investigators at the Tourist Police Division 2 made contact with the suspect via the WhatsApp messenger service, connecting through an accomplice—one Marina. You guessed it, she too was trying to pass as a doctor. The two arranged a meeting where Viktoria was to administer an injection, promising to zap away symptoms related to booze-bingeing for the sweet price of 6,000 baht ($185).
At 9 PM sharp, two undercovers strolled into a rental property in Muang district, expecting to meet with the charlatan. They got what they came for, and Viktoria was promptly nabbed.
Asked about her credentials, Viktoria 'fessed up - she wasn't a lick of a real doctor, no permit to swing a scalpel, and not authorized to peddle pharmaceuticals. Viktoria had already taken advantage of several island tourists with her quackery.
Police hauled in 47 items that belonged to her illegal operation. They expedited the case to investigators for further legal proceedings, leaving this unscrupulous alien to face justice for practicing medicine without a license, selling pharmaceuticals without authorization, manufacturing and importing medication illegally, and working as a foreigner without the proper green card.
[1] Phuket's Foreign 'Doctor' Arrested for Allegedly Practicing Medicine Without a License
[2] Phuket Tourist Police Arrests Russian Woman for Selling Alleged Illegal Medical Treatments
- Viktoria's unauthorized 'health-and-wellness' practices, which included offering medical-conditions therapies and treatments without a license, have sparked concern among Phuket authorities and the health community.
- The Phuket Tourist Police's undercover operation, aimed at stopping unlicensed 'science' activities, led to the arrest of Viktoria, who was selling supposed medicines and treatments illegally.
