The Immigration Bureau of Thailand recently announced an emergency policy aimed at addressing issues of crime, cybercrime, fraud, and transnational crime to protect the interests of the Thai people.
According to the policy of the Royal Thai Police, the Immigration Bureau is authorized to intercept, inspect, and arrest foreigners entering Thailand for illegal operations, and to investigate Thais and foreigners who behave improperly during their stay in Thailand, commit illegal acts, endanger the peace and safety of people's lives and property, and damage the national image.
This action is set against the backdrop of China's cooperation with Myanmar and Laos in cracking down on telecom fraud and online scam gangs in border areas, causing these criminal gangs to flee and relocate their criminal bases to new locations along the borders of neighboring countries, using Thailand as a transit point.
For this purpose, the Thai Immigration Bureau is collaborating with the Central Investigation Bureau, the Narcotics Bureau, the Border Patrol Police, and several other security agencies to jointly combat these transnational criminal networks.
From October 1, 2023, to September 30, 2024, the Immigration Bureau launched the "Checkmate the Transporter" operation, successfully arresting five major network organizations that helped Chinese nationals enter Thailand illegally.
These networks include the networks of Mr. Wiraphon, Mr. Kan, Mr. Wongsakorn, Mr. Tokki Hong, and Mr. T. A total of 78 cases were filed, 89 suspects were arrested, 69 vehicles were seized, and 287 illegal Chinese immigrants were arrested!
In these networks, each has its specific operational methods and involved personnel.
For example, Mr. Wiraphon serves as a border coordinator in Chiang Rai Province, responsible for arranging vehicles and leading the transport team; Mr. Kan is a border broker in Tak Province, responsible for smuggling Chinese nationals across the borders of Thailand and Myanmar; Mr. Wongsakorn has contacts with foreign brokers in Laos and Myanmar, hiring teams to transport and smuggle Chinese nationals across the border.
Tokki Hong acts as a "middleman" at the Thai-Malaysian border, connecting with middlemen in Malaysia and Cambodia to smuggle Chinese nationals; and Mr. T acts as a foreign broker in Laos, coordinating border brokers and hiring teams to transport Chinese nationals through illegal routes into and out of Thailand.
These criminal networks are involved not only in illegal immigration but also in telecom fraud, online gambling, and other transnational criminal activities. These criminal activities have caused significant losses to the Thai people and have defrauded people from many countries around the world.
Therefore, the Thai Immigration Bureau stated that it will continue to piece together these fragments and coordinate with each country to understand the overall situation and professionally address these crimes.
The results of this operation demonstrate the determination and capability of the Thai Immigration Bureau in combating transnational criminal networks. Deputy Director of the Immigration Bureau, Colonel Pantana Nuchanar, stated that today's press conference is to announce the arrest of these five major networks, which are interconnected in terms of personnel or financial channels. The Immigration Bureau will continue to gather information and conduct investigations to expand the results of arresting and combating illegal immigration smuggling networks.
Furthermore, he pointed out that the Thai government will continue to work hard, cooperate with various countries, and jointly combat transnational crime to protect the interests and safety of the people.