Thai Police Bust Korean-Chinese Scam Ring Posing as Prosecutors
Thai immigration police, together with South Korean officers, raided three locations in Bangkok and arrested ten suspects—two Chinese and eight South Koreans—who ran a scam ring posing as high‑level prosecutors. The operation, prompted by an earlier overstayer arrest, uncovered losses exceeding 100 million baht and seized computers, phones and other equipment. Suspects have been detained for deportation to South Korea, and the Bureau vowed to boost screening of foreign criminals.
Immigration police launched Operation Root Out to dismantle a scam gang that posed as high-level prosecutors, causing losses of over 100 million baht. On October 19, 2026, Police General Samran Nualma directed the action, joined by Lieutenant General Nopphasit Phunsawat, Police Major Generals Thanit Thaiwatcharamas, Chingnon Rimphadi, Srawut Khon Yai, Decho Sosuwananakul, and over thirty officers together with South Korean police. They raided more than three sites across Bangkok, arresting ten suspects—two Chinese nationals and eight South Koreans. Lieutenant General Nopphasit said the crackdown followed the September 4 arrest of a South Korean overstayer wanted for fraud and online gambling, which revealed links to a call‑center and online gambling network involving Chinese and Korean members. A month‑long surveillance pinpointed three suspicious zones in Ladprao‑Huai Kwang, Wacharaphon‑Jatuchot, and Ratchada‑Rama 9, where eight to nine foreigners entered daily. Officers observed the movement of computers and equipment to a new residence equipped with high‑speed internet, consistent with a scam hub. Investigation showed Chinese nationals acted as leaders providing premises, while South Koreans served as administrators pretending to be prosecutors or government officials to trick victims into transferring money. The raid seized thirteen computers, twenty‑one mobile phones, and fifty‑one related items. Numerous South Korean victims were identified, with total losses surpassing 100 million baht. Thai and South Korean police are now gathering evidence to trace masterminds, follow money flows, and round up remaining network members. The Immigration Bureau has cancelled the suspects’ permission to stay, blacklisted them from entering Thailand, and detained them for deportation to South Korea to face charges. Lieutenant General Nopphasit concluded that the Bureau will continue implementing Police General Samran Nualma’s orders to strengthen screening of foreigners who commit crimes or flee cases, alongside its four pillars: proactive security, intelligence‑led operations, network disruption, and international‑standard service, to prevent transnational threats while facilitating legal entry. The public can tip off suspicious activity via the Immigration Bureau hotline 1178, available 24 hours a day.
