PHUKET, THAILAND – A sweeping police operation on Thailand’s best-known resort island dismantled a series of fraud and money laundering networks.
Nominee motorcycle rental in Chalong shut down
Investigators targeted a motorcycle rental firm in Chalong operating under the name Big Bike Rental and Sales Co Ltd, which was found to be using a classic nominee structure. Foreigners ran the business while Thai nationals appeared only as paper shareholders, and payments flowed directly to overseas accounts.
“The Thai shareholders had absolutely no role in the operation,”
said Police Major General Sinlert Sukhum, adding that the business had been closed and all those involved were under investigation.
Russian courier suspected of feeding call-center gang
Kathu police arrested a Russian national who allegedly served as a cash courier for an international fraud syndicate. Officers seized 34 mobile phones, 27 bank cards and cash, and the man was suspected of having withdrawn more than 110,000 Baht from various ATMs.
He had been wanted under an arrest warrant issued by the Lampang Provincial Court and was placed in pre-trial detention. According to police, an important financial channel for the cyber gang was cut off with his arrest.
Fake police extort restaurant and business owners
In a separate case, another group posed as police officers and called restaurant and business owners. Under the pretext of providing “border security assistance,” they extorted more than 900,000 Baht, which victims transferred via PromptPay.
Investigators followed the money trail and apprehended suspects in Surat Thani and Nong Bua Lamphu. The detainees admitted they had worked as money receivers for a small commission.
Donations scam targeting foreign residents in Rawai
Two men in a white pickup truck drove through Rawai claiming to be high-ranking police officers. They asked foreign residents for donations supposedly intended for soldiers and police, and further victims later came forward in media reports.
The pair were eventually arrested in Chumphon province. Police said they had deliberately chosen areas with a high concentration of foreigners for their scheme.
Money laundering ring for online scammers dismantled
The largest financial losses were linked to a money laundering network supporting online fraudsters. Bank staff became suspicious when a man attempted to withdraw 500,000 Baht, prompting an investigation.
Officers arrested four suspects and seized dozens of bank books and mobile phones, determining that the group had opened accounts specifically for online scammers. The money was transported toward the Thai-Lao border, and the total damage from five related fraud cases exceeded 9.3 million Baht.
Police issue warning to tourists and residents
The Phuket Provincial Police issued a strong warning about such scams.
“Never give money or data if you are uncertain,”
said the official statement.
Authorities said the large-scale raids showed that even in a holiday paradise there were serious risks, but that coordinated action demonstrated they would not leave room for criminals.