Huai khwang: Immigration police have conducted a significant operation, resulting in the arrest of 16 foreigners linked to a scam gang, including Taiwanese nationals with multiple arrest warrants.
According to Thai News Agency, police from Huai Khwang Police Station and Immigration Division 1 executed a raid on a condominium in the Rama 9 area following reports of suspicious activities. The operation led to the arrest of 16 individuals, comprising 15 Chinese nationals and one Taiwanese national. Among them, 12 were found to have entered Thailand illegally. The Taiwanese suspect is particularly notable, as he is wanted in Taiwan on three separate arrest warrants.
Police Colonel Prasopchok Iampinij, Superintendent of Huai Khwang Metropolitan Police Station, and Police Colonel Phonsit Suthi-at, Superintendent of Investigation at Immigration Bureau Division 1, spearheaded the operation. They collaborated with local police officers to apprehend the gang members, who are believed to have fled a neighboring country. The Taiwanese suspect, in particular, is a key figure in this investigation due to his existing warrants for drug-related offenses, fraud, and money laundering.
Pol. Col. Prasopchok revealed that the operation was initiated after local sources reported suspicious activities involving Chinese nationals. Upon investigation, authorities detained 13 individuals for violating the Immigration Act. These included 12 illegal immigrants and one individual who had overstayed their visa. The Taiwanese national’s involvement was confirmed through coordination with Taiwanese authorities, revealing his fugitive status.
The investigation further uncovered that the Taiwanese suspect and some of his associates were previously involved with a scam gang operating in a neighboring country. The gang was reportedly instructed to disperse due to increased border security, leading them to seek refuge in Thailand. Authorities are now investigating the involvement of a Thai national suspected of facilitating their arrival in the country.
During the raid, police discovered the room belonged to a Chinese woman connected to one of the suspects. Authorities seized several mobile phones, which are now under examination for potential evidence of criminal activity. The Taiwanese suspect confessed to being involved in a money mule scam in Taiwan, claiming he was manipulated into the scheme by a computer science graduate involved in romance scams.
Pol. Col. Prasopchok emphasized the commitment of the National Police Commissioner and the Metropolitan Police Bureau 1 Commander to rigorously enforce measures against foreign scam gangs exploiting legal loopholes. The crackdown aims to address the significant damage caused by such criminal activities.
The investigation remains ongoing, with authorities determined to dismantle the network and prevent further illegal activities. The suspects, particularly the Chinese nationals, are believed to have entered Thailand with intentions of committing crimes, prompting further scrutiny and legal action under the Immigration Act of 1979.