A pair of drunk tourists were arrested for allegedly performing car drifting stunts in Thailand.

Police were alerted to a white Mazda 2 driving recklessly at the Koh Kaew and Darasamut intersections in Phuket on Tuesday, March 11, around 10:30 pm.

Footage shows the vehicle circling several times while other road users were at a halt before manoeuvring at a rapid pace.

Authorities quickly responded but were unable to catch the suspects initially. The arresting team was only able to corner the fleeing vehicle when it reached a dead-end road.

However, the duo fled on foot, running towards a dense forest.

The two were eventually caught shirtless and appeared to be intoxicated, though they continued to resist arrest.

Officers sustained minor injuries during the operation as the suspects struggled.

Police later revealed that one of the offenders, Anamere George, a Nigerian national, had an arrest warrant from the Phuket Provincial Court dated August 2023.

The warrant was for the offence of being an alien who entered and remained in the country after his permission expired, as well as possession of Category 2 narcotics (cocaine).

Authorities are still verifying the identity of the other suspect.

Both individuals were unable to communicate in English, and police reported that the two behaved incoherently at the station, singing continuously throughout the ordeal.

The once-pristine island of Phuket has been marred by over-tourism as the Thai government implements a visa-free scheme to boost revenue following the barren pandemic years.

The island saw 800,000 foreign visitors last year alone.

However, angry locals claim the push for tourist dollars has attracted crowds of 'low-quality' visitors from Russia, India, and Australia. There are also fears that the island has become an enclave of criminal activity, with police unable to control street fights and more organised ruffians setting up rackets among local businesses.

Phuket officials said they are implementing tighter immigration controls and screening processes amid a wave of drug-related crimes and illegal activities on the island.