Chiang mai: The Ministry of Interior, in partnership with the police, has successfully executed "Operation Suppress the Chai Prakan Threat," effectively dismantling a network responsible for the illegal issuance of registration cards to foreign nationals. This operation resulted in the arrest of twenty suspects, among them government officials, village headmen, and community leaders, with authorities contemplating the revocation of their registration cards.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Worasit Liengprasit, Deputy Minister of Interior, and Mr. Narucha Khosasilai, Director-General of the Department of Provincial Administration, alongside Pol. Gen. Samran Nuanma, Deputy Commissioner-General of the Royal Thai Police, addressed the media following a significant joint operation. This operation, involving over 200 officers from six agencies, targeted a corruption ring that was exploiting fraudulent identities to acquire Thai national identification cards for individuals lacking registered status in Chai Prakan District, Chiang Mai Province.
Police General Samran disclosed that the police, together with the DOPA NICE team, probed into the issuance of 5,044 registration cards between 2018 and 2022. The investigation unveiled several anomalies, such as the use of fictitious house numbers, incomplete fingerprint collection, and forged document certifications, leading to the operation and subsequent arrest of 20 suspects, including government officials and Myanmar nationals accused of identity theft.
The operation uncovered 74 instances of illegal registration, prompting the cancellation of these entries in the Chai Prakan district. Additional cancellations are underway, with 4,947 suspected cases being placed on a "watchlist." A provincial-level working group has been established to further investigate and expand the inquiry. Should further corruption be detected, immediate legal action will be pursued.
Mr. Narucha highlighted the Department of Provincial Administration's commitment to eradicating threats to registration security. The department intends to address system loopholes through technological advancements, legal updates, and enhanced training for local registrars across the nation.