Operation “Dragon Scale Removal” dismantled the fake Thai father network, advancing investigations and arrests to trace back to the source. Initially, a fake Thai father surrendered.
On 9 July 2026, following the launch of Operation “Dragon Scale Removal” targeting the crackdown on the “fake Thai father” syndicate, arresting hospital and district officials involved in falsely registering births to foreigners to grant Thai nationality, as previously reported,Read news: Crackdown on the “fake Thai father” syndicate, arresting hospital and district officials involved in false birth registrations for foreigners)
At 15:45 at Metropolitan Police Division 8 (MPD 8), Rama 2 Road, Bang Mod Subdistrict, Chom Thong District, Bangkok, Mr. Polpeer Suwanchavee, Deputy Minister of Interior, together with Police General Samran Nuanma, Deputy Commissioner of the Royal Thai Police; Police Lieutenant General Nophasil Poolsawat, Chief of the Office of the Royal Thai Police; Mr. Vitoon Sirinukul, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Provincial Administration; Mr. Angsukit Wisutwatthanasak, Director of the Justice Affairs Division, Department of Special Investigation; Mr. Supap Siri, Director of the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Division 1; and Mr. Apinan Nuansuwan, Director of Financial Intelligence Analysis Division, jointly held a press conference announcing the results of Operation Dragon Scale Removal.
Mr. Polpeer stated that over the past period, the government, led by Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, has recognized the threat posed by transnational crimes to Thai citizens, including call center scams, scammers, and various gray businesses. Following directives for all relevant agencies to intensify suppression of these crimes, it was discovered that offenders utilize the civil registration and Thai nationality systems to facilitate concealment, asset transfer, and evasion. This is not limited to false listings or impersonation of Thais but includes hiring Thais for fake marriages or false paternity to grant their children Thai nationality, creating an alternative identity alongside the individual’s real nationality. Such acts cause broad impacts beyond depriving Thais of rights and welfare—they harm the economy and society and threaten public order and national security.
“Therefore, the government is serious about combating all forms of crime, integrating cooperation among all sectors today, including the Ministry of Interior via the Department of Provincial Administration, the Royal Thai Police, the Office of the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission, and the Anti-Money Laundering Office. Operation “Dragon Scale Removal” targets the syndicate falsely registering births to grant Thai nationality to foreign children, marking a significant and clear achievement due to the arrests of many syndicate members and related individuals,” Mr. Polpeer said.
Mr. Polpeer added that protecting Thai rights and combating such crimes are priorities. These crimes take various forms, and investigations continue strictly to identify unknown methods, with communications possibly involving the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society, as some cases involve online contact, requiring expanded operational components.
He emphasized that this matter is important, and all relevant government agencies with direct authority will continue to seriously and continuously suppress these transnational criminal networks, applying the law straightforwardly—wrongdoings will be prosecuted without discrimination. Investigations and expansions will trace all networks as directed by the Prime Minister and Interior Minister, based on principles of confidentiality and behavioral assessment. Anyone involved, including state officials or private organizations aiding or supporting crimes, will face strict legal action prioritizing national interest.
“This mission is partially accomplished but not yet complete, as judicial processes remain. However, we will not stop and will pursue the matter to its origin, aiming to arrest as many as possible.” Mr. Polpeer concluded.
Police General Samran stated this integrated operation was assigned by the Prime Minister to the Ministry of Interior and the Royal Thai Police and allied agencies. In this operation targeting fake fathers, the Royal Thai Police collaborated with the DOPA N.I.C.E. task force, issuing 53 arrest and search warrants—33 for DNA testing and 20 for arrests.
The actions are divided into five groups: one state official already arrested; one nursing fund officer arrested; 16 foreign individuals with warrants; 17 fathers recognized as fake Thai fathers with warrants; five Chinese fathers suspected of supporting the scheme in various provinces, with five arrested so far; a total of 15 arrests to date.
An interesting case involves a Chinese mother and father registering their son’s birth in Pho Klang District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province, before registering for Thai nationality. The hospital could register the birth because a Thai acted as a fake father to grant nationality by bloodline. The district later registered the child, who holds dual Thai and Chinese nationality. Another case involves Mr. Prajuab, a Thai shareholder in a company, who denied involvement. DNA tests confirmed he is not the father. He plans to surrender at Bang Yi Ruea Police Station with a lawyer. Authorities noted that whether fake fathers are aware or not, signing as father is an offense, and fairness for all parties is necessary. The integrated work with various agencies will continue, and similar cases will be jointly prosecuted.
Mr. Vitoon said this operation follows the April case “Reverse Dragon Scale” conducted with the Royal Thai Police, involving a Chinese man named Mr. Chen arrested as a scammer. It was found he had children with Thai nationality born at private hospitals. The investigation expanded from there. The government policy views this as a serious threat undermining national security and damaging the economy.
Meanwhile, the Department of Provincial Administration issued nationwide orders to all district and local registry offices requiring both foreign fathers and mothers to personally confirm their child’s birth registration. Previously, hospitals provided documents to district officials for processing without parental presence.
For long-term solutions, the Department of Provincial Administration has proposed amendments to the civil registration law, clearly defining offenses and increasing penalties.
Mr. Supap said that preventive measures will be developed with agency cooperation to ensure such incidents do not recur.
A representative from the Anti-Money Laundering Office stated they have coordinated financial information with the Department of Provincial Administration and will expand measures to seize assets of offenders and related parties involved in transferring assets connected to the crimes.
The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) commented that these actions enable individuals to obtain Thai nationality without screening or prior registration status, instantly creating Thai identity. This fully Thai identity allows children to own property, open bank accounts, and hold corporate shares—rights foreign parents would otherwise not have. This poses not only a security threat but also economic harm to the country, with further investigations planned.
Reporters said authorities detained Ms. S., a medical records officer at a private hospital in Thonburi, and Ms. S., a district office employee in Thonburi, involved in the fake Thai father syndicate issuing birth certificates to Chinese children to gain Thai nationality, for interrogation and charges at Metropolitan Police Division 8.
Police Lieutenant General Nophasil Poolsawat, Chief of the Office of the Royal Thai Police, and Police Major General Chotiwat Luangwilai, Chief of Investigation Division at Metropolitan Police Division 8, participated in the questioning. The Department of Provincial Administration explained to Ms. S. that hospitals issue birth certificates, but the district office issues birth registration documents.
Ms. S., the district officer, explained she provided documents to hospitals in bundles because the system had not been computerized before. The private hospital used these forms since 2004. She inspected documents for every birth registration but admitted that fathers often did not appear personally, though some cases had fathers present.
Ms. S., the medical records officer, briefly denied involvement when asked if she was part of the Chinese children syndicate or acted as an intermediary. She also denied offering birth packages at the hospital.
At 16:00, Mr. Prajuab, another suspect linked to the fake father network, surrendered at Bang Yi Ruea Police Station. He had certified a child’s birth at a hospital in Thonburi. Reports indicated that children with dual Thai and Chinese nationality are up to 13 years old, with over 1,000 cases. Authorities will proceed with nationality revocation.