Immigration Police Unit 3 tracked and arrested a German national wanted by authorities who had been hiding in Thailand for more than three years. The suspect changed residences to evade pursuit before being captured at a guesthouse in Mae Hong Son province. He is scheduled to be sent back to his home country for legal action.
On 1 September 2026, Pol. Lt. Gen. Phanumas Boonyalaksam, Commander of the Immigration Bureau, along with Pol. Maj. Gen. Panthana Nuchnarat, Deputy Commander, and Pol. Maj. Gen. Songprod Sirisukha, Commander of Immigration Unit 3, ordered Pol. Col. Chinawut Tangwonglert, Deputy Commander of Immigration Unit 3; Pol. Col. Suriya Puangsombat, Chief of the Investigation Division, Immigration Unit 3; Pol. Lt. Col. Pitipat Srithanaaphinan, Deputy Chief of the Investigation Division; and Pol. Lt. Col. Jaturachok Phetkhong, Inspector of Immigration Unit 3, to lead the operation.
They arrested Mr. Jürgen Herbert Schneider, 64, a German national wanted by the Memmingen District Court in the Federal Republic of Germany under a warrant issued on 12 January 2024 for the offenses of "using force to assault and obstruct an officer performing official duties."
This arrest followed coordination from the Immigration Bureau with German police, who informed that Mr. Schneider was a wanted individual listed by German authorities after assaulting German officials and fleeing capture. The suspect exhibited aggressive behavior with tendencies toward violence and had previously threatened German embassy staff, potentially endangering public safety and disrupting peace and security in Thailand. Intelligence indicated he had entered and was residing in Thailand.
Investigations revealed that Mr. Schneider entered Thailand in early 2024 on a tourist visa and frequently changed accommodations to avoid detection. He married a Thai woman and was later found hiding at a guesthouse in Mueang District, Mae Hong Son Province. After evading capture for over three years, he was arrested by police earlier this morning.
Authorities temporarily revoked his permission to stay in the kingdom, classifying him as a prohibited person under the Immigration Act due to reasonable grounds to believe he could pose a threat to society or national security, and because he was wanted by a foreign government. He is now in custody pending deportation to the Federal Republic of Germany for further legal proceedings.