PATTAYA, THAILAND – Immigration and tourist police raided a luxury pool villa and shut down an allegedly illegal investment call center staffed by Indian nationals.
Afternoon raid in Village 12
On 20 April at about 3:40 p.m., officers searched a two-storey pool villa in a village near Soi Chaiyapruk 2, Village 12. The operation was carried out jointly by Chonburi Immigration and Pattaya Tourist Police after tips from local residents.
According to the information received, the property had seen frequent visits and gatherings by Indian nationals. Officers surrounded the compound before entering in a coordinated manner to assess the situation inside.
Reports of regular meetings and suspicious activity
Concerned citizens had reported that more than 30 Indian nationals regularly gathered at the villa and were believed to be engaged in illegal activities. Based on these reports, the authorities decided to monitor the site and then move in.
The officers entered the building after securing the perimeter. All persons present were checked while the rooms and workstations were searched.
Secluded villa with high walls and closed curtains
The villa was reported to cover around 70 square wah, or roughly 280 square meters, and was surrounded by walls more than 2.5 meters high. Glass doors and windows at the front were tightly covered with curtains, preventing any view from the outside.
This setup made it difficult for outsiders to see what was happening inside the building. Neighbours had therefore relied mainly on the comings and goings of visitors to raise their suspicions.
Twenty men at laptops, dozens of phones lined up
Inside, officers found about 20 Indian men actively working on laptop computers. Next to them, more than 40 mobile phones were laid out in rows.
Police identified themselves and began a detailed search of the rooms and electronic devices. The occupants were required to present their passports and answer initial questions on the spot.
Suspected business model: investment pitches and stock “pumping”
A first review of the computers indicated that messages had been sent to other Indians, inviting them to invest in various businesses and in stock trading. The offers reportedly included gold as well as digital currencies such as Bitcoin.
According to investigators, there were also indications of weekly and monthly “pumping” of stocks. The communications suggested a strategy of repeatedly promoting selected shares to potential investors.
Seized evidence and internal salary structures
Police said they seized 18 laptops, 30 mobile phones and A4 documents showing what appeared to be professional salary and departmental structures. The papers listed divisions such as call center, marketing, finance and general administration.
According to the documents, marketing staff were to receive up to 100,000 Indian rupees per month, equivalent to around 34,000 baht. The structured payroll sheets were taken as potential evidence of an organised operation.
Arrests and initial statements from suspects
The 20 men who had been working at the computers and handling calls were arrested and taken to the Chonburi Immigration office on Jomtien Soi 5 for further questioning. There they gave initial statements about their stay and activities in Thailand.
They stated that they had entered the country as tourists before the Songkran festival in March 2026. The men admitted, however, that they had worked without permits and supported online stock transactions in return for commissions.
Allegations of illegal work and registration violations
The 20 arrested men initially faced accusations of working in the kingdom without official permission. Further charges could follow depending on the outcome of the ongoing investigation.
In addition, another ten Indian nationals, both men and women, were found at the property and were suspected of violating residence notification requirements. These individuals were handed over to Pattaya City Police station for further legal proceedings.