The Department of Provincial Administration officially opened its Coordination Center to combat registration security threats, elevating efforts to prevent and suppress fraud in civil registration and nationality.
At 09:30 on 31 July 2026, at the Personnel Development Center building, College of Local Administration, Thanyaburi District, Pathum Thani Province, Mr. Naru-cha Kosasivilai, Director-General of the Department of Provincial Administration, together with Mr. Winai Tocharoen (Administration and System Development Division), Mr. Ronarong Tipsiri (Administration and System Development / Local Administration Division), Mr. Vitoon Sirinukul (Local Administration Division), and Mr. Virun Sithiwong (Registration and Information Technology / Security Division), jointly inaugurated the Department’s Coordination Center to Combat Registration Security Threats. “DOPA NICLE” officially, to enhance prevention and suppression of civil registration and nationality fraud. Currently, Thailand faces security threats from transnational criminal organizations and fraudsters exploiting loopholes in the registration system to impersonate Thai nationals and unlawfully obtain Thai nationality. This illicit nationality is then used to commit crimes such as money laundering, nominee asset holding, and illegal business operations, severely impacting national security, the economy, and public trust in government systems.
Mr. Naru-cha Kosasivilai, Director-General of the Department of Provincial Administration, revealed that the department recognizes the severity of registration fraud, including impersonation of Thai nationals and stateless persons to eventually gain Thai status. These acts are complex and linked to various criminal networks, requiring specialized mechanisms for investigation, inspection, and stringent legal action. Establishing the “Coordination Center to Combat Registration Security Threats or DOPA N.C.C.E. Center” enhances integration of information, receipt of tips, and cooperation with related agencies nationwide. It designates three main coordination points: the Registration Administration Office, the Citizen Service Center (Wang Chaiya), and the Department of Provincial Administration (Thanalongkorn Tower building). It also opens channels for public reporting with strict confidentiality protections to ensure effective, transparent crackdown on registration fraud that genuinely protects citizens’ rights.
The Department has formed a working group and operational teams against registration security threats, including the DOPA NI.C.E. working group under Department of Provincial Administration Order No. 492/2569 dated 18 February 2026. This group serves as the main body for directing integration and driving investigations and suppression of fraud, covering threat data analysis, proactive policy formulation, law enforcement, and monthly evaluation meetings. Four investigative task forces and an assisting operations team were established by Department Order No. 587/2569 dated 25 February 2026 to investigate, accelerate problem-solving, collect evidence, and conduct field arrests of offenders related to civil registration and identity card fraud rigorously. The DOPA N.I.C.E. working group also opened a channel for information and complaints via the Facebook page “DOPA NICE ต่อต้านภัยความมั่นคงทางทะเบียน,” which has received numerous tips from the public, victims, and various agencies about registration and ID card fraud.
Moreover, on 26 May 2026, the working group convened to set guidelines for upgrading operations, approving the urgent establishment of the “Coordination Center and Working Group to Combat Registration Security Threats, Department of Provincial Administration (DOPA N.I.C.E. Center)” to act as the central body for directing, supervising, commanding, and integrating coordination within the department, partner agencies under MOUs, and the public. It also manages data and communication channels systematically, with clear agency responsibilities assigned. In the longer term, a permanent unit under the Registration Administration Office will be established to comprehensively drive prevention, suppression, and investigation with data analysis on registration fraud through three operational areas: intelligence and data analysis, investigation and suppression, and prevention and coordination. Currently, no main responsible agency has an integrated mechanism, causing some operations to lack continuity and unity. Thus, the DOPA N.I.C.E. Center is necessary to enhance the effectiveness and systematic speed of addressing registration fraud.
As a result of past operations, the DOPA N.I.C.E. task forces have conducted inspections and crackdowns on registration fraud nationwide, leading to arrests and revocation of numerous unlawful registration entries. Notable operations include 'Cutting the Fog in Wiang Haeng,' 'Dispersing the Fog in Chiang Dao,' 'Gray Withdrawal in Trat,' 'Old Capital Card Cutting Dragon Scale,' 'Dragon Shadow Sweep of Gray G Registration,' 'Closing the Shadow Force,' and 'Removing the Dragon Scales.' These uncovered networks involving brokers and government officials colluding in fraud such as impersonation, falsifying documents, false birth registrations, and unlawful house registration transfers to grant foreigners nationality or rights. Many suspects were arrested and fraudulent records revoked.
