PHUKET, THAILAND – Thai immigration officers in Phuket arrested a 46-year-old French man wanted in France for attempted murder and prepared to deport him within days.
Arrest after targeted surveillance in Rawai
Officials detained the man, identified by authorities only as Mr. Faisal, in Mueang Phuket district after locating him at a house in Tambon Rawai. Investigators said they had kept him under observation for several days to confirm his whereabouts.
The surveillance aimed to verify his identity and prevent any attempt to flee before officers moved in. The arrest concluded what authorities described as a focused operation in the Rawai area.
Wanted for attempted murder in France
According to Thai authorities, Faisal was the subject of an arrest warrant in France for attempted murder, which had been circulated to member states as an Interpol Red Notice. The notice identified him as a wanted person to law enforcement agencies worldwide.
During questioning, he admitted to officers that he was the person sought under the warrant. He reportedly said the case stemmed from a dispute in France in which he had fired at another man and injured him.
Entry as tourist then residence revoked
Official immigration records showed that Faisal entered Thailand on 23 January 2026 under a visa exemption. The permission to stay had initially been valid until 23 March.
Immigration authorities later revoked this permission, citing his status as a foreign national subject to an outstanding international arrest warrant. The cancellation allowed Thai officials to initiate deportation proceedings.
French embassy request triggered manhunt
The search operation in Phuket was launched after a formal request from the French embassy in Bangkok, according to Thai officials. The request was relayed through the Foreign Affairs Division of the Royal Thai Police.
The embassy closely followed the case and remained in regular contact with Thai agencies. Officials said the French side had highlighted Phuket as the likely location and stressed the urgency of making the arrest.
Fast-track removal to France
The suspect remained in custody at the Phuket Immigration facilities while documents for his transfer and return to France were prepared. Thai officials indicated that his deportation was expected to take place in the coming days.
They said the removal would be carried out in close coordination with the French authorities. The process was being handled as a priority case given the seriousness of the allegations.
Crackdown policy on international offenders
The operation formed part of a nationwide campaign targeting foreign fugitives and transnational crime, ordered by the Commissioner of the Immigration Bureau, Pol Lt Gen Phanumas Boonyalak. Thai immigration has stepped up checks on foreigners with possible criminal records abroad.
Police did not provide details on how a man who later became the subject of a Red Notice had been able to enter the country in the first place. Questions also remained over the role of the new Thailand Digital Entry Card (TDAC) system, with the possibility that the Red Notice was issued only after his arrival acknowledged but not clarified.