Officers collaborated with the tourist police to track down 46-year-old Alexsandr Krasilov outside the Siberyak restaurant in Rawai and apprehend him on the charge of illegally removing the rocks.
It appeared from pictures provided in the official online report by tourist police that Krasilov was using the stolen coral rocks for decorative purposes outside the restaurant.
It was not disclosed whether he owned or operated the venue or eaxctly when and where he took the coral from the sea.
Krasilov was taken to Chalong police station and charged with violating Section 7 of the Wildlife Preservation and Protection Act 2019, which outlaws the possession of protected wildlife items.
The police team leading the bust included Pol. Lt. Col. Channarong Rodthongdee, SWAT TAT 3rd Battalion Investigation Division, who was joined by Nares Chuphung, an expert fisheries officer.
Also present during the raid were officials from the Phuket Marine Resource Conservation Center, and the officers from the Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Suppression Division.
Last June two Chinese tourists were charged for handling starfish and climbing over corals during a dive trip to Koh Racha Yai, south of Phuket.