Phuket–
A coordinated police operation in Phuket has struck at the heart of a transnational fraud network, leading to the arrest of a Russian suspect and the seizure of more than 5.4 million baht in cash.
Provincial Police joined forces with Immigration Police and Tourist Police after receiving intelligence from the Anti-Scam Coordination Center (ACSC) that Russian nationals were withdrawing large sums of money from mule accounts linked to online fraud and call center scams.
Authorities executed search warrants at three locations across the island. In Wichit,
- Wichit : Officers arrested Ilya, a 26-year-old Russian national, under a Phuket Court warrant. Cash totaling 638,700 baht was confiscated.
- Chalong: Police discovered Igor, another Russian national, whose ties to fraud cases are under investigation. Officers seized 4,594,420 baht in Thai currency and USD 6,271 (approx. 206,943 baht). Immigration authorities have revoked his visa.
- Choeng Thalay : No suspects were found at the target location, but investigations are ongoing.
The operation resulted in:
- One arrest under court warrant
- One foreign national detained for immigration violations
- Cash seizures totaling 5,440,063 baht plus other evidence
Police confirmed that the seized funds are being traced to uncover the wider network of mule accounts, masterminds, and beneficiaries behind the cybercrime operations.
Authorities stated that all individuals involved will face prosecution, regardless of nationality. The crackdown shows Thailand’s commitment to tackling transnational financial crime and protecting victims of online fraud.
