The Metropolitan Police Narcotics Suppression Center launched an operation titled “Cracking the Russian Gang of 2025 Using AI to Control Drug Sales Across Bangkok,” revealing drug sales distributed via QR codes across Pathumwan, Lumpini, and Yannawa districts without physical contact with the evidence.
On 9 Dec 2025, Police General Kittirat Punpetch, Commissioner of Police, along with Police General Samran Nualma, Deputy Commissioner, Police Lieutenant General Somprasong Yenthuam, Assistant Commissioner, Police Lieutenant General Siam Boonsom, Metropolitan Police Bureau Chief, Police Lieutenant General Achayon Kraithong, Narcotics Suppression Bureau Chief, ordered Police Major General Theeradej Thamsuthi, Deputy Chief of Metropolitan Police Bureau responsible for narcotics, Police Major General Chaikrit Pho-a, Commander of Metropolitan Police Division 6, Police Major General Kiatkul Sonthianen, Commander of Division 2, Police Major General Chotiwat Luangwilai, Commander of Metropolitan Police Bureau Investigation Division, Police Colonel Narit Prathanaporn, Deputy Commander of Division 6, Police Colonel Phansa Amornapitak, Superintendent of Yannawa Police Station, and Police Colonel Porntep Chalermkiat, Superintendent of Sutthisan Police Station,
mobilized officers from the National Police Narcotics Suppression Center, Metropolitan Narcotics Suppression Center, Metropolitan Police Bureau Investigation Division, Yannawa and Sutthisan Police Stations to conduct the operation “Cracking the Russian Gang of 2025 Using AI to Control Drug Sales Across Bangkok.” They searched and arrested Ivan Volnov, aka MR. IVAN VOLNOV, 34, a Russian national, under a warrant from the South Bangkok Criminal Court No. จ 1268/2568 dated 3 Dec 2025, on charges of advertising illegal drugs or controlled substances without permission and possession of category 5 narcotics such as cannabis extract and resin without authorization. He was arrested at a hotel in Soi 46, Inthamara 47, Ratchadaphisek Subdistrict, Din Daeng District, Bangkok. Also arrested was Mark Maolopuro, aka MR. MARK MAOLOPURO, 35, Russian, charged with possession of category 5 narcotics without permission and overstaying his visa. He was arrested at a renowned hotel in Soi Ekkamai 10, Khlong Tan Nuea Subdistrict, Watthana District, Bangkok.
Seized evidence included 200,000 baht in cash, a gray GRANVIA van, two MacBook Pro laptops, seven mobile phones, 20 memory cards and flash drives, five bank passbooks, 41 unidentified cannabis flower bags, 25 cannabis resin jars, 20 bags of cannabis seeds, a cannabis grinder, and many other items.
This investigation originated when the Metropolitan Narcotics Center traced QR code stickers advertising drugs for 2025 that used AI to sell narcotics without physical contact with evidence, along with an AI system that expanded the network like a startup business. On 13 Nov 2025, an online patrol team led by Police Major General Theeradej Thamsuthi found clues from the Facebook page Drama-addict reporting QR code stickers selling drugs in Russian along Bangkok streets, notifying all police stations to investigate. They found such stickers in the Lumpini, Pathumwan, and Yannawa areas.
Analysis concluded the suspects formed an organized network spread across these areas. Police Lieutenant General Siam Boonsom, Metropolitan Police Bureau Chief, was informed and assigned Police Major General Theeradej Thamsuthi to lead the Metropolitan Narcotics Center task force, collaborating with Yannawa and Lumpini Police Stations in detailed field investigations.
During street surveys, mysterious QR code stickers labeled “Thai hub Telegram COCAINE KETAMINE MEPH METH MDMA” were found attached to bus stops and many utility poles. The investigation revealed a surprising method resembling perpetrators from the future—“invisible and without presence”—using AI technology to simultaneously manage the drug delivery process in a sophisticated manner.
The criminals’ scheme involved interested buyers scanning the QR code on the sticker, which directed them to the Telegram app to conduct drug transactions. An “AI Bot” handled all customer interactions for drug purchases 24/7 without any human administrator, making tracking difficult. Transactions were processed exclusively via digital currency. The AI Bot verified payments in real time and automatically approved orders without needing payment slips.
The drug delivery method was equally sophisticated: instead of delivering drugs themselves, the criminals instructed buyers to retrieve drugs hidden at preset locations nationwide. The AI Bot sent coordinates and photos of the stash immediately after payment, turning the process into a deadly treasure hunt where buyers “dug up” or “picked up” their orders. This operation was considered extremely dangerous due to its intelligent network expansion strategy. After completing a purchase, the AI Bot invited buyers to become “partners” through a membership system with tasks such as: 1. referring others to buy drugs for tiered discounts; 2. becoming couriers who, under AI orders, “buried” or “hid” drugs in various locations, moving drugs through chains where members neither knew nor met each other, preventing exposure of kingpins if arrested; and 3. providing an API for tech-savvy users to create their own AI Bot storefronts, earning commissions. This allowed the network to grow limitlessly and evade shutdowns, with real masterminds invisible and only AI technology managing operations. After weeks of investigation,
Police Major General Theeradej employed a “salt against salt” strategy, marking the true start of the AI war in 2025. Using AI technology to trace the secret organization with futuristic investigation methods, the narcotics suppression team identified two key Russian suspects within one week. One was found actively burying drug caches in Pattaya, Chonburi Province. The Metropolitan Narcotics Center and Yannawa Police Station teams quickly pursued the suspect.
On 9 Dec 2025 around 12:00, Police Major General Theeradej led an operation ordering investigators to swiftly arrest MR. MARK, preventing him from locking his phone screen and detaining him. Seized items included a mobile phone open on the Telegram app. Searching a suspicious van uncovered large amounts of cannabis products. Further investigation revealed another suspect, who had placed the QR code stickers, fled to Sutthisan area. Police raided a renowned hotel in Ratchada Soi Inthamara 47, Ratchadaphisek Subdistrict, Din Daeng District, Bangkok, arresting MR. IVAN. His room search found a laptop open on the Telegram app and other evidence confirming his crimes.
MR. IVAN denied all allegations, stating the person seen on CCTV placing QR code stickers was not him. He said the screenshot of news about drug-selling QR codes was automatically captured by the WeChat program, not by him. Regarding photos on the wall showing him wearing the same hat as on the crime day, he claimed it was a coincidence. He also said the police video might show someone resembling him. He declined further comment and said he knew MR. MARK but was neither acquainted nor close to him.
MR. MARK admitted overstaying but denied cannabis charges, claiming he had a medical license to use cannabis and a permit to sell cannabis under a company name. He said he had lived in Thailand for three years, traveling frequently to Bangkok, Chonburi (Pattaya), Chiang Mai, and various southern provinces. Regarding the van transporting bulky items, he said he liked carrying a rice cooker to his room to cook Japanese rice, not cannabis products. As for cat litter, he said he did not own cats but carried it in his vehicle. He added that if deported, he would return to live with his partner in Russia.
Police Major General Theeradej Thamsuthi, Deputy Chief of Metropolitan Police Bureau and deputy police spokesperson, said this operation was a timely strike to cut off the threat at its root. The criminals used advanced, novel methods that made normal investigations impossible. The frightening aspect was the rapid, clever, and anonymous drug business expansion model using AI technology unethically. The two suspects were key figures in this operation. Further detailed investigations will continue in coordination with the Narcotics Suppression Bureau, led by Police Lieutenant General Somprasong Yenthuam, Assistant Commissioner of Police, who chaired a policy meeting and signed a Memorandum of Understanding on proactive narcotics work for domestic and transnational drug networks on 3 Dec 2025. The public can assist by reporting drug tips via hotlines 1386, 191, 1599, or local police stations to help build a sustainable drug-free society, in line with policies of Police General Kittirat Punpetch, Commissioner of Police, and Police General Samran Nualma, Deputy Commissioner.
MR. MARK, along with some seized evidence, was handed over to Khlong Tan Police Station for prosecution, while MR. IVAN was taken to Yannawa Police Station. Additional seized items found in MR. IVAN’s room were forwarded to Sutthisan Police Station for further legal action.