Thai Police Bust Fake Birth Registration Scheme for Chinese Children

BANGKOK — July 9, 2026 — Thai police have arrested hospital and district office officials in connection with an alleged fake birth registration scheme that authorities say helped 164 Chinese children obtain Thai nationality by using fake Thai fathers on their birth certificates.

Pol. Gen. Samran Nualma, Deputy Commissioner-General of the Royal Thai Police, alongside Pol. Lt. Gen. Nophasin Phoolsawat, Bureau Chief attached to the Office of the Commissioner-General, and Witoon Sirinukul, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Provincial Administration, are preparing to lead Metropolitan Police officers in a crackdown on Thursday.

The operation targets paid "fake Thai fathers" who allegedly falsely acknowledged paternity for foreign children while acting in collusion with staff at a hospital and officials at a district office, both located on the Thonburi side of Bangkok.

Meanwhile, Pol. Maj. Gen. Chotiwat Luangwilai, commander of the Metropolitan Police Division, led investigators in arresting a medical records officer at a private hospital in Thonburi district. Police identified her as a broker for the alleged "Chinese Infant" scheme, responsible for recruiting Chinese clients seeking to give birth at the hospital through a 70,000-baht package. Investigators said she received about 20,000 baht per case for processing and coordinating the required paperwork and had allegedly operated the scheme for more than five years.

An examination of hospital records identified 164 Chinese children whose births had been registered using Thai fathers over the past five years. Investigators found no prenatal records involving Thai fathers but said Thai men later appeared solely to acknowledge paternity, allowing the hospital to issue birth registration documents identifying them as the fathers.

Pol. Maj. Gen. Chotiwat read the arrest warrant to the suspect and informed her of the charges, including being a public official who unlawfully performed or omitted official duties or acted corruptly in office, while also advising her of her legal rights.

Authorities also arrested a district office official in the Thonburi area, who is accused of acting as a co-conspirator by facilitating paternity registrations and issuing birth certificates for the Chinese children.

Both suspects were taken to Metropolitan Police Division 8 for questioning as investigators continue expanding the case.

Authorities said they are also seeking search warrants to raid properties linked to the parents of the Chinese children allegedly involved in the scheme.