PATTAYA, THAILAND – An alleged network recruiting so-called mule bank accounts in Pattaya was exposed, and nine people were arrested in a joint police operation.
Joint operation targets suspected mule account recruiters
The action involved Tourist Police Division 2, regional investigators and the Banglamung district administration, and was directed at local helpers of call-center and online fraud gangs who allegedly used the accounts for money laundering. According to officials, the raid formed part of coordinated efforts to disrupt financial infrastructure supporting transnational scams.
Citizen tip and Facebook job post trigger investigation
The operation was based on information from concerned residents. Investigators found a post in a Facebook group for “Jobs in Pattaya” offering 3,000 to 4,000 baht per bank account to people willing to open accounts in their own name for third parties.
The post read verbatim:
“Urgently need cash-withdrawal in Pattaya – 3-4K per account, can bring friends.”
said investigators, who interpreted this as a classic recruitment pattern for mule accounts used by fraud networks.
Undercover officer meets suspect at short-stay hotel
As part of the nationwide strategy of the Royal Thai Police and Tourist Police Commander Pol. Lt. Gen. Saksirot Phuek-am to dismantle call-center and online fraud rings, police deployed an undercover officer. The officer contacted the suspected recruiter via the Line messaging application.
The suspect repeatedly changed the meeting point to avoid potential surveillance before both finally agreed on a short-stay hotel in South Pattaya. There, the recruiter first handed the undercover officer 2,500 baht in cash and then accompanied him to open a new bank account and buy a SIM card in the officer’s name.
Hotel room raid and failed escape attempt
The following day, they met again at the same hotel, where the suspect intended to explain how incoming funds should be received and withdrawn. When the undercover officer gave the agreed signal, waiting officers stormed the room.
Three alleged recruiters tried to flee but were surrounded and arrested by the police. Officers also searched an adjacent room, which investigators said served as accommodation for the recruited account holders.
Drugs discovered and six more suspects detained
In this second room, officers found six people resting who, according to police, were openly consuming drugs supplied by the recruiters. Police seized drug paraphernalia and an amount of methamphetamine (Yaba).
In total, officers arrested three alleged recruiters or agents of the mule account network and detained six recruited individuals for drug use in the second room. All nine suspects initially denied any wrongdoing and were taken to Pattaya Police Station for further questioning.
Possible additional drug charges and wider probe
Investigators said they expected additional charges related to drug possession and distribution. Authorities stated that the operation was part of a nationwide intensification of action against mule accounts, which they described as a key infrastructure for transnational cybercrime gangs to disguise proceeds from fraud.
Investigators were examining possible links between those arrested and larger call-center and online fraud syndicates. Officials said dismantling such recruitment networks was intended to prevent further misuse of Thai bank accounts for money laundering.