Immigration Investigation Unit 3 and Pak Kret Police raided a romance scam gang in Muang Thong Thani, arresting 13 foreigners. The group operated as an organized network, chatting with Thai female victims and tricking them into transferring money to mule accounts four times, causing losses exceeding 2 million baht. Authorities are currently expanding the investigation.
On 21 Jan 2026 GMT+7, Pol. Lt. Gen. Panumas Boonyalak, Commander of Immigration Police, along with Pol. Lt. Gen. Watthana Yijin, Commander of Provincial Police Region 1; Pol. Maj. Gen. Panthana Nuchnarat, Deputy Commander of Immigration Police; Pol. Maj. Gen. Wichit Boonchinwutikul, Deputy Commander of Provincial Police Region 1; Pol. Maj. Gen. Songprod Sirisukha, Commander of Immigration Police 3; Pol. Maj. Gen. Detrapee Khongdee, Commander of Nonthaburi Provincial Police; Pol. Col. Chinwut Tangwonglert, Deputy Commander of Immigration Police 3; Pol. Col. Adirek Thongkaemkaew, Superintendent of Pak Kret Police Station; Pol. Col. Suriya Puangsombat, Superintendent of Investigation Unit, Immigration Police 3; Pol. Lt. Col. Ithithorn Prasertsak, Deputy Superintendent of Investigation Unit, Immigration Police 3; Pol. Lt. Col. Karun Limpirojanarit, Deputy Superintendent of Investigation Unit, Pak Kret Police; Pol. Lt. Col. Thongthai Phairo; and Pol. Lt. Anupap Tujinda, Investigation Officer, Immigration Police 3, jointly coordinated the operation.
The combined investigation teams of Immigration Police 3 and Pak Kret Police conducted a sweep, raiding 11 locations within a condominium building in Muang Thong Thani, Pak Kret District, Nonthaburi Province. They arrested MR. CHIMOABO OKAFOR, 37, a Nigerian national, along with 12 others. Seized evidence included four computers and 29 mobile phones. The scam network tricked Thai women into using bank accounts as mules to facilitate illegal money transfers.
The case originated in late 2025 when a Thai female victim filed a complaint with Nong Khai City Police, reporting that a group of criminals had deceived her via Facebook and Line under the name “Bingwen Fu,” using a profile picture claiming to be a Chinese engineer. The perpetrator gradually built a relationship, sending photos of his work regularly. Early in 2026, the criminals began their fraudulent scheme.
They claimed to be managing a large construction project but were unable to withdraw funds. They asked the victim to transfer money in advance as withdrawal fees, promising reimbursement. The victim believed the story and transferred money to mule accounts four times, resulting in losses exceeding 2 million baht. Police traced the financial routes and charged the owners of those accounts.
Further investigation by Immigration Police 3 revealed that MR. CHIMOABO OKAFOR was the key mastermind, leading a gang of black foreign nationals. The group had divided roles: some deceived victims, others withdrew money, and some sourced bank accounts. They communicated through the Telegram app and operated from multiple buildings within the same condominium complex in Nonthaburi. Authorities arrested 13 suspects, including 11 Nigerians and 2 Ivorians (from Ivory Coast).
Initially, it was found that most suspects—eight individuals—were residing in Thailand with expired permits. Five Nigerians had no travel records and admitted they had entered illegally via the Laos border.
Examination of the seized computers and mobile phones revealed interconnected criminals dividing tasks among themselves. Chats showed typical romance scam messages, with fake identities posing as attractive, affluent foreigners from Europe and Asia, who engaged Thai and other women to gain trust and lure them into transferring money.
The gang operated professionally in teams with coordinated roles. Links were found to a similar case handled by Nong Khai City Police, which defrauded Thai women out of millions. Some suspects lived with Thai women and used their bank accounts to launder illegal funds. They also instructed victims to withdraw cash from ATMs under the pretense it was money sent by a friend, hiding evidence of their involvement. Cash received in Thailand was converted to cryptocurrency and sent back to Nigeria, with fees deducted for their services.
Police plan to expand investigations to other accomplices in the network. All seized communication devices will be sent to the Technology Crime Suppression Division for detailed analysis to gather further evidence and assist in apprehending the entire gang.