Deputy National Police Chief "Big Rarn" led an investigative team with Pol. Lt. Gen. Nopasil, collaborating with the Ministry of Interior and the DSI, to launch an operation dismantling the 'Gray G registration' system. This crackdown targeted foreigners fraudulently obtaining registration, resulting in the arrest of a former Wiang Kaen district chief officer who was issuing identification cards to foreigners without official registration status.
On 18 June, Pol. Gen. Kittirat Phanphet, National Police Chief, ordered the operation led by Pol. Gen. Samran Nualma, Deputy National Police Chief, along with Pol. Lt. Gen. Nopasil Poolsawat, Commander of the Office of the Police Chief. Police from Region 5 and Chiang Rai investigation units, Wiang Kaen Police Station, coordinated with Chiang Rai provincial administration, the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), and the Office of the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission to launch the 'Gray G Registration Crackdown' targeting corruption involving foreigners assuming student registrations with G-prefix ID numbers to obtain identification cards.
The investigative team requested the court to issue 27 arrest warrants for 22 suspects, including one former Wiang Kaen district chief officer, two members of the Volunteer Defense Corps, and 19 persons assuming false identities. Authorities conducted raids on six locations: the former district chief officer’s residence in Wiang Chiang Rung District; his wife's home in Chiang Rai city; two Volunteer Defense Corps members' residences; a residence of a person assuming a false identity in Doi Luang District; and the Wiang Kaen District Learning Promotion Center in Wiang Kaen District.
Pol. Gen. Samran explained that in November 2024, security police checkpoints detected a foreign man illegally entering Thailand through natural routes, found carrying 140,000 baht cash. The man claimed the money was for producing identification cards for persons without official registration status. Suspicions arose over corruption in the student registration system with G-prefix ID numbers and foreigners assuming these identities to obtain such ID cards in Wiang Kaen District, Chiang Rai. This prompted further investigation by the task force.
Pol. Gen. Samran added that investigations revealed foreigners of various nationalities—Chinese, Burmese, Laotian, and Vietnamese—were assuming these identities. They were believed to be connected to scammer gangs and drug trafficking. Possession of these ID cards facilitated easier living conditions, including travel, bank account opening, and transactions, and could lead to unlawful citizenship acquisition. Additionally, proceeds from crimes could be laundered or used to purchase assets, posing a national security threat.
During interrogations, some foreigners admitted that within their secret network of expatriates working in Thailand, they were informed about obtaining identification cards for persons without official registration status starting with the number “0.” Holding such a card for four to five years could allow conversion to a citizen ID. They contacted a Burmese man named Tun Lin, about 50 years old, residing in Tha Khilek, who quoted a price of 100,000 baht for producing such cards.
Investigations also found that identification cards for persons without official registration status were produced by having foreigners impersonate real student registrations with G-prefix ID numbers in Wiang Kaen District, Chiang Rai, during 2024–2025. More than 200 suspicious cases have been identified.
The Royal Thai Police, collaborating with the Department of Provincial Administration and partner agencies, are taking serious and ongoing action against this network, expanding investigations in all directions and prosecuting all involved parties.