PHUKET: A man wanted in Russia for drugs offences has been arrested on Phuket after being found to be using a fake passport and falsifying documents.

Anatoly Gural, 30, was arrested at 9pm last night by immigration officers from Phuket City. He had been on Phuket since April 1. Officers are keen to know more about his movements.

Mr Gural was arrested while using a passport in the name of Danil Safronov after Phuket Immigration officers discovered he was on an Interpol list as being wanted in Russia over drugs offences.

It has since been confirmed that the real Danil Safronov is living in Russia and has never been to Thailand.

Mr Gural, who is still being questioned at Immigration Headquarters in Phuket City, was arrested last night in Kokyang Soi, Rawai.

Immigration officers said they had been tracking his movements for a week. He will be taken to Chalong Police Station and charged with possessing a false passport and faking documents.

Once the court proceedings are over and his sentence is completed on Phuket, he is likely to be deported to Russia to face the drug charges.