Unveiling the connection of the operation "Phantom birth registration" Gang network "Jin Tao" Officials are preparing to issue a complete suspension order and urge the fact-finding committee to conclude results within 30 days.
Dr. Kitipong Pongsurawet, mayor of Pho Klang Subdistrict Municipality in Mueang Nakhon Ratchasima District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province, filed a complaint with the Mueang Nakhon Ratchasima Police Station to press charges against municipal officials after uncovering corruption in the municipal civil registration office. The misconduct involved forging birth registration documents for foreigners as part of an organized operation, with officials demanding tens of thousands of baht in bribes per case. This investigation arose after the Department of Provincial Administration coordinated an inspection and found irregularities in issuing birth registration documents to foreigners (Jin Tao). So far, at least 27 suspicious cases have been identified, mostly involving Chinese nationals, with state officials implicated in the process.
On 2 May 2026, Kitipong Pongsurawet, mayor of Pho Klang Subdistrict Municipality, revealed progress in the phantom birth registration investigation after mobilizing civil registration officers and the municipal secretary to thoroughly examine related documents from the past five years. The aim is to revoke birth certificates issued to the Jin Tao group, who used fraudulent documents to register births with Ms. Da (a pseudonym), a skilled civil registration officer at Pho Klang Municipality. Ms. Da was arrested this morning by police from the Anti-Corruption Division and an investigative task force from the Department of Provincial Administration. This followed a coordinated "Dragon Scale Reversal" operation on 29 April 2026, involving the Department of Provincial Administration's security team (DOPA N.I.C.E.), the Anti-Cybercrime Center (ACSC), the Royal Thai Police, and other agencies. They arrested a transnational crime network that hired Thai men to register fake marriages and falsely acknowledge children, enabling Chinese children to obtain Thai nationality. Two cases were uncovered with six suspects arrested and one additional case under investigation.
Authorities are currently thoroughly reviewing documents to expand the investigation into the phantom birth registration network of the Jin Tao group and suspect children recently detained by immigration police at Suvarnabhumi Airport two days ago while attempting to leave the country. Investigators also found links to a fake ID card network operating in Chiang Mai Province.
Meanwhile, coordination with Suranaree Camp Hospital revealed that out of 45 cases, 29 had actual birth records but were fraudulently registered under other people's names, while 16 had no birth records at all. To date, Pho Klang Subdistrict Municipality has identified 50 phantom birth registrations—5 by the Department of Provincial Administration and 45 by the municipality. Authorities are preparing to suspend all such registrations and will propose swift revocation by the Department of Provincial Administration. The fact-finding committee has been urged to finalize its report within 30 days to proceed with disciplinary and criminal actions against those involved, ensuring offenders cannot evade justice.
Recent reports reveal the operational link of the phantom birth registration network within the Jin Tao gang. It begins with the hiring of Mr. Nopparat, a former district chief officer in several districts of Nakhon Ratchasima Province. Mr. Nopparat acts as a central coordinator because he previously held a master code from the Department of Provincial Administration, allowing nationwide access to the civil registration system. The Jin Tao gang places orders with him to carry out the process, offering a fee of 30,000 to 50,000 baht per case. His tasks include three steps: registering sham marriages, forging birth certificates, and finding residences to register names on household registration records.
Mr. Nopparat then coordinates with civil registration officers at district offices and municipalities who were former colleagues or acquaintances to receive the phantom birth registrations, paying them between 10,000 and 30,000 baht per case. Ms. Da, the skilled civil registration officer at Pho Klang Municipality, and a former employee at the Huai Thalaeng district civil registration office, had previously worked closely with Mr. Nopparat and are well acquainted.
Additionally, police investigators, the Anti-Corruption Division, and the Department of Provincial Administration's investigative team discovered that Nong Phai Lom Subdistrict Municipality in Mueang Nakhon Ratchasima District has conducted similar phantom birth registrations, totaling 18 cases.