The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) raided and arrested a deceitful couple who tricked Thais into working as admins, then handed them over to a scam gang in Cambodia. Victims revealed that failure to meet targets led to near-fatal beatings.
On 23 May 2026, Pol. Maj. Gen. Witthaya Sriprasertphap, Commander of the DSI, ordered Pol. Col. Warit Pathumarak, Chief of Division 2, DSI; Pol. Lt. Col. Kiattikong Thongkham, Deputy Chief of Division 2, DSI; and Pol. Lt. Col. Narongwet Jiwdej, Investigation Officer of Division 2, DSI, to lead the arrest of Mr. Angkarn, also known as Joe, aged 28, and Ms. Saharat, also known as Kae, aged 29, a married couple, under arrest warrants No. 2828 and 2829/2569 dated 18 May 2026.
They face charges of "participation in a transnational criminal organization, conspiracy of two or more persons to commit human trafficking, and conspiracy of three or more persons to force labor or services." The arrests took place in front of Saeng Tawan rental room, Room No. 14, Arunodai House, Muang Na Subdistrict, Chiang Dao District, Chiang Mai Province.
This arrest followed reports from victims to investigators in Division 2, DSI, stating that in April 2025, the deceitful couple lured them to work as admins in Cambodia. However, upon arrival, they were detained and forced to work in a scam gang that tricked people into investing in online product sales via a fake Shopify platform. Victims said those who resisted or failed to meet sales targets were brutally punished with electric batons, beaten, and tortured. They confirmed witnessing Thai colleagues being beaten nearly to death and left imprisoned until they died.
Later, when victims fell seriously ill and pleaded to return home, Chinese financiers threatened them, demanding ransom payments of 500,000 baht per person. After negotiations, the amount was reduced to 120,000 baht each. Ultimately, victims had to pay a total of 240,000 baht to buy their freedom from this hellish situation.
Following this, Division 2, DSI collected evidence and obtained arrest warrants for 10 members of the gang, including both Chinese and Thai nationals still at large abroad. Police learned that the couple, Angkarn and Saharat, who deceived Thais across borders and managed money flows through mule accounts, had secretly returned to Thailand. Initially hiding in Wang Nam Yen District, Sa Kaeo Province, they fled to the mountain tops in Chiang Dao District, Chiang Mai Province, where police raided and arrested them with evidence of chats used to deceive new victims.
During interrogation, the couple denied the charges, claiming they had traveled to Cambodia with the victims and admitted knowledge of ransom demands and torture but denied any involvement. They were handed over to investigators in Division 2, DSI, for prosecution, with authorities continuing efforts to arrest the remaining suspects.