BANGKOK, THAILAND – Thai immigration police arrested six foreign nationals in four separate cases involving large-scale fraud, human trafficking and international drug smuggling.
Chinese fraud suspect accused of billion-baht scheme
Authorities said a 41-year-old Chinese man surnamed Pan was wanted in China for alleged fraud against financial institutions. The reported damage amounted to 560 million yuan, roughly 2.8 billion baht or 71 million euros, with investigators alleging he used falsified business information to secure loans. He had stayed in Thailand on an expired tourist visa since May last year and was located by police in a salon in Chon Buri, where he was hiding.
Alleged trafficking of call-centre workers to Myanmar and Cambodia
In another case, three Chinese nationals identified as Yang (31), Zhang (21) and his girlfriend Cheng (20) were detained. They were accused of luring more than 120 compatriots to Myanmar and Cambodia with fake job offers, where the victims were then forced to work in scam call centres. According to immigration police, the trio had been living unnoticed in separate condominiums in Bangkok’s Sukhumvit and Lat Phrao districts.
Taiwanese cannabis suspect exposed by visa application
A separate investigation involved Chen, a 37-year-old Taiwanese man wanted for allegedly smuggling more than 54 kilograms of cannabis by container from Canada. He had fled to Thailand and later presented himself at the immigration office to apply for an extension of his student visa. Officers immediately identified him from the warrant and placed him under arrest.
Italian accused of shipping multiple hard drugs
In the fourth case, a 26-year-old Italian man named Simone was suspected of sending heroin, cocaine, ketamine, ecstasy and LSD in international parcels. He had entered Thailand only in October and was arrested by officers at a condominium in Bangkok’s Ekkamai district. Immigration police said the case formed part of wider efforts to disrupt cross-border drug supply routes.
Immigration chief vows no safe haven in Thailand
Police General Panthana Nuchanart, deputy commissioner of the immigration bureau, underlined the significance of the coordinated operations.
“Thailand is not a safe haven for international criminals.”
said Panthana Nuchanart, deputy commissioner of the immigration bureau.
Officials said the arrests reflected closer cooperation with foreign law enforcement agencies and stricter monitoring of visa extensions. The six detainees were being held in pretrial detention pending extradition proceedings or possible prosecution in Thailand.