BANGKOK, THAILAND — Police General Surachate “Big Joke” Hakparn stated on 3 November 2025 that he refused a 100 million baht bribe from a serving national police chief during a large‑scale raid on Chinese‑run tour companies operating in Bangkok and Phuket. The rejected payoff, worth roughly €2.5 million, was allegedly offered to halt a criminal investigation ordered by former Prime Minister Prayut Chan‑o‑cha.
Operation Against Zero‑Dollar Tours
On 3 November 2025, at a press briefing held at Royal Thai Police Headquarters in Bangkok, General Surachate Hakparn, then Commander‑General of the Tourist Police Bureau, said General Prayut Chan‑o‑cha had personally tasked him to dismantle “zero‑dollar” tour operations that forced Chinese travellers into compulsory shopping stops. The crackdown expanded an earlier probe linked to the 2018 Phoenix boat disaster in Phuket, which left dozens of Chinese tourists dead and exposed deep‑rooted corruption in the tourism chain.
According to Hakparn, investigators targeted over twenty Chinese‑controlled companies suspected of laundering millions through overpriced gemstone outlets and kickback schemes. Coordinated raids in Bangkok’s Ratchadaphisek district and Phuket Town led to the seizure of property worth 20 billion baht (approx. €500 million).
The 100 Million Baht Offer
During the height of the 2025 investigation, General Surachate Hakparn received a call from a national police chief stationed in Bangkok, who proposed that he drop the case. Hakparn quoted the official saying, “HEY JOKE, THEY OFFER YOU 100 MILLION BAHT; DON’T GO AFTER THEM — WE CAN SPLIT IT 50 MILLION EACH.” Hakparn claimed he immediately rejected the deal, citing orders from Prime Minister Prayut to continue the crackdown.
“I told him, ‘Brother, keep it. I can’t take it. The Prime Minister ordered this operation, so I must complete it,’” Hakparn recounted. His stance led to raids in Phuket’s Patong Beach area and Bangkok’s Bang Na district, resulting in the arrest of 15 suspected coordinators within two weeks.
Financial Impact and Political Reaction
Between November 2025 and January 2026, the Tourist Police Bureau under Hakparn froze bank accounts containing 20 billion baht, while the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) registered over 30 cases tied to the same network. Former Prime Minister Prayut Chan‑o‑cha later joked with Hakparn about the bribe, reportedly saying, “JOKE, YOU ARE A FOOL; THEY OFFERED YOU 100 MILLION AND YOU REFUSED.” Hakparn replied, “SIR, IF I HAD TAKEN IT, YOU WOULD HAVE ELIMINATED ME.”
The revelations prompted questions within the Royal Thai Police Commission, chaired by Pol. Gen. Torsak Sukvimol, regarding the unnamed official accused of passing the offer. So far, no internal inquiry has been announced, and the National Anti‑Corruption Commission (NACC) has not confirmed any investigation as of March 2026.
Public Demands for Transparency
After Hakparn’s statement became public on Naewna TV on 4 November 2025, civic groups in Chiang Mai and Bangkok collected more than 5,000 signatures demanding that the NACC President Watcharapol Prasarnrajkit disclose the identity of the police chief involved. Activists said the alleged offer of 100 million baht exposed systemic weaknesses within the tourism enforcement system.
“THIS CASE SHOWS HOW DEEP MONEY HAS FLOWN IN THAI LAW ENFORCEMENT,” warned Somchai Srisuthiyakorn, coordinator of the Anti‑Graft Network, on Radio FM 98.5 Bangkok. He urged parliament’s Public Accounts Committee, chaired by Wiroj Lakkhanaadisorn, to summon both Hakparn and the Royal Thai Police Inspector‑General for a full hearing in April 2026.
What Remains Unknown
As of March 2026, neither General Hakparn nor General Prayut has revealed the identity of the officer who allegedly made the bribe call. The Tourist Police Bureau maintains that its files on the “zero‑dollar” network remain open pending court rulings expected in mid‑2026. The public, meanwhile, continues to ask whether the 100 million baht offer marked an isolated act or a symptom of deeper corruption inside Thailand’s tourism‑security nexus.
“THE QUESTION NOW IS WHO DID IT AND WHO WILL DARE TO WRITE THE NAME,” Hakparn told reporters at Suvarnabhumi Airport before flying to Chiang Rai on 5 March 2026.