U.S. Secret Service Honors Phuket Police for Counterfeit Dollar Crackdown

PHUKET:

Senior U.S. Secret Service officials met with Phuket Provincial Police leadership on September 22nd, 2026, to thank officers for their role in dismantling networks trafficking counterfeit U.S. dollar banknotes and to strengthen cooperation against transnational economic crime.

At 11:00 a.m. in the reception room of the Phuket Provincial Police Office, Police Major General Sinloet Sukhum, Commander of Phuket Provincial Police, welcomed Samuel Cloud, Senior Special Agent and Assistant Attaché representing the United States Secret Service (USSS). Cloud and his team coordinate bilateral law-enforcement efforts with Thai and regional agencies on cases involving counterfeit currency, economic crime, and cross-border cyber fraud.

During the meeting, Cloud presented certificates of appreciation to Police Major General Sinloet for the province’s sustained success in major investigations over the past three years. Additional certificates were awarded to officers recognized for outstanding investigative work in key cases, particularly in Wichit, and Kamala. Recipients included:

• Police Colonel Somsak Thongkliang, Superintendent of Wichit Police Station
• Police Lieutenant Colonel Rattanawut Nukaew, Deputy Superintendent of Investigation, Sakhu Police Station
• Police Lieutenant Colonel Wutthiwat Liangbunjinda, Deputy Superintendent of Prevention, Wichit Police Station
• Police Captain Witthaya Kulnoi, Inspector of Investigation, Wichit Police Station
• Police Lieutenant Colonel Saiw Jankaew, Inspector of Investigation, Kamala Police Station
• Police Lieutenant Colonel Noppadol Tonmanee, Inspector of Investigation, Patong Police Station
• Police Captain Nakorn Chatphai, Inspector (Investigation), Choeng Thale Police Station
• Police Sub-Lieutenant Rachata Phromkhun, Deputy Inspector (Investigation), Wichit Police Station

and other officers whose work supported broader regional enforcement actions.

The visit’s primary purpose was to specifically recognize Police Colonel Somsak Thongkliang and officers of Kamala Police Station. In 2024, while serving as Superintendent of Kamala Police Station, Somsak led the arrest of foreign nationals residing in Kamala who were found using counterfeit U.S. dollar notes. Intelligence and evidence shared with U.S. authorities proved highly valuable in subsequent operations targeting the wider counterfeit-currency network across Southeast Asia.

After transferring to the post of Superintendent of Wichit Police Station, Somsak’s team made additional arrests linked to the same type of counterfeit-currency activity. U.S. officials described these successive cases as significant contributions to the fight against transnational organized crime.

Cloud and his delegation used the meeting to exchange operational information and formally express gratitude to the Phuket Provincial Police Commander and the officers under his command