Deputy Chief 'Jor' led a raid to dismantle a romance scam gang, arresting six Nigerians hiding out in a luxury condo by the Chao Phraya River used as a base to deceive Thai women. They uncovered a single phrase that hinted at bank account scams.
At 07:00 on 23 May 2026, Police Chief Kittirat Phanphet, Deputy Chiefs Samran Nuanma and Thana Chuwong, Assistant Chiefs Jiraphop Puridech and Krisda Kanchanalongkorn ordered Metropolitan Police Commander Siam Boonsom, Deputy Commanders Wasan Techakrakasem and Thiradet Thammasut, Nonthaburi Provincial Police Commander Dechaphee Khongdee, and other senior officers to lead personnel from the Narcotics Suppression Center and investigative units to launch the "Dark Room Raid" operation. They executed search warrants at three rooms in a luxury condo in the Sanambinnam area.
They arrested six Nigerian suspects, all charged with being members of a criminal gang and overstaying their permission to remain in Thailand. Investigations into the romance scam are ongoing, coordinating with victims and local prosecutors. Seized evidence included 18 mobile phones containing chat logs, scam scripts, AI-generated fake faces, three laptops, and three bank passbooks.
The arrests occurred at a luxury condo near Phra Nang Klao Bridge, Bang Krasor Subdistrict, Mueang District, Nonthaburi Province, at 16:00 on 22 May.
Following up on 22 May 2026, Police Chief Kittirat Phanphet appointed Deputy Chief Samran Nuanma to lead a task force against illegal foreign businesses, alongside the Director of the National Police Narcotics Prevention and Suppression Center. They ordered Metropolitan Police Commander Siam Boonsom and Deputy Commander Thiradet Thammasut to focus on drug trafficking networks involving foreigners, in line with government policy.
Later, Deputy Commander Thiradet Thammasut expanded investigations after the Narcotics Prevention and Suppression Center, Metropolitan Narcotics Center, and Bangkok Narcotics Suppression Division jointly arrested 'Patrick', a Nigerian drug trafficking kingpin involved in international cocaine trade, along with three others. They seized 27 grams of cocaine and assets worth 2.5 million baht on 18 April 2026.
Further investigation uncovered an organized crime network with suspicious financial links to a group of Nigerians in Nonthaburi. Deputy Chief Samran Nuanma ordered a probe revealing that this group held student visas but exhibited unusually high cash flow and congregated in a luxury riverside condo near Phra Nang Klao Bridge without attending work or school. Evidence was submitted to the Nonthaburi court, which approved search warrants for three rooms (condo name withheld) on 22 May 2026.
On 22 May 2026, Deputy Commander Thiradet Thammasut, alongside Nonthaburi Provincial Police Commander Dechaphee Khongdee, led officers from the Metropolitan Narcotics Prevention Center, Nonthaburi Provincial Investigation Division, and Rattanathibet Police Station to execute the court-issued search warrants at the three luxury condo rooms.
Although the condo management cooperated fully, the suspects were cautious. When officers arrived, the suspects refused to open the doors. Sounds of movement inside suggested attempts to destroy evidence, prompting officers to forcibly break down the doors to enter.
In the first room, three suspects were found along with seven phones displaying chat screens typical of romance scams targeting older women. During the raid, one suspect attempted to escape by climbing the balcony, while another hid inside the inner bathroom floor, trying to send messages to accomplices in the other rooms. Inspector 'Jae' led the team to break into the other two rooms, arresting three more suspects, totaling six. Authorities seized 18 phones and three laptops.
Further analysis of the suspects' phones revealed chat conversations on Messenger, Facebook, WeChat, TikTok, Line, and Zalo. The suspects used fake profiles of foreign men with impressive jobs—pilots, American soldiers, lawyers, engineers, doctors—to romance victims before claiming a parcel was held at customs and demanding money for fees.
Most victims were older Thai women. Authorities discovered numerous original scam scripts used by the gang, intended for public disclosure for awareness. Notably, the scripts included sexually suggestive dialogue designed to arouse desire, specifically targeting older women’s longing for passionate relationships. Evidence from all six suspects' phones confirmed this psychological manipulation. All suspects were found to have overstayed their visas.
All six suspects confessed to the charges.
Deputy Commander Thiradet Thammasut, also Deputy Police Spokesperson, said this operation aligns with the government's urgent policy and Police Chief Kittirat Phanphet's directive to crack down on foreign criminal enterprises in Thailand. This case evolved from last month's international cocaine trafficking arrests. The evidence included chat logs with victims, AI-generated fake faces to deceive, and psychological scripts targeting elderly Thai women. Criminals now use AI to animate fake profiles, create fake video calls, and employ advanced psychological tactics to exploit loneliness and desire. He urged the public, especially families with elderly members, to watch for foreigners with attractive profiles who initiate deep conversations.
They usually end by claiming "A parcel has been sent but is held at customs; a fee must be paid first." This should be presumed a 100% scam; never transfer money. He thanked the condo management and all who cooperated during the operation.
The suspects, along with the seized evidence, were handed over to Rattanathibet Police Station for legal proceedings.