Deputy Minister of Interior Worasit Liangprasert led a press conference on Operation “Sabbapai Chaiprakan,” breaking up a corruption network that fraudulently issued “zero number” ID cards to 5,044 foreigners in Chaiprakan District, Chiang Mai Province, ordering prosecution of government officials and issuing arrest warrants for those involved.
At 09:00 on 26 Aug 2026 GMT+7, Mr. Worasit Liangprasert, Deputy Minister of Interior, chaired a press conference presenting the results of Operation “Sabbapai Chaiprakan,” which targeted corruption in the registration of stateless persons and the illegal issuance of “zero number” ID cards to foreigners in Chaiprakan District, Chiang Mai Province. The event took place on the 2nd floor of the Chiang Mai Provincial Police Headquarters auditorium.
The briefing was joined by executives from various agencies, including Mr. Naruecha Kosasivilai, Director-General of the Department of Provincial Administration; Police General Samran Nualma, Deputy Commissioner of the Royal Thai Police; Police Lieutenant Colonel Siripong Sritula, Deputy Secretary-General of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC); Mr. Ratpol Naradisorn, Governor of Chiang Mai; Mr. Sornchai Chuwichian, Deputy Secretary-General of NACC Region 5; Police Lieutenant General Kritthaphon Yisakorn, Commander of Provincial Police Region 5; Police Lieutenant General Nopphasin Poonsawat, Chief of the Office of the Royal Thai Police Commander; and Mr. Somchai Tichai, Director of the Special Case Operations Center Region 5 (DSI).
Worasit stated that Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul assigned him to represent the government in announcing the operation’s results, emphasizing that this issue is a national priority. Such offenses pose a threat to national security, causing widespread impact beyond mere theft of Thai citizens’ rights and benefits; they also damage the economy and society, threatening public order and the country’s stability.
“The government is serious about combating all forms of crime, leading to integrated cooperation among all sectors today. The Ministry of Interior, through the Department of Provincial Administration, the Royal Thai Police, the Office of the National Anti-Corruption Commission, and related agencies launched Operation 'Sabbapai Chaiprakan' to crack down on corruption involving registration of stateless persons and illegal issuance of 'zero number' ID cards to foreigners from 2016 to 2022. Over 5,044 cases were identified in Chaiprakan District, Chiang Mai, with 74 confirmed fraudulent registrations revoked. For the 23 arrests made today, revocation and cancellation of fraudulent registrations will proceed swiftly.”
Worasit added that the Ministry of Interior, the Department of Provincial Administration, the Royal Thai Police, and partner agencies are united in combating threats to registration security, actively and continuously suppressing these transnational criminal networks. He emphasized strict law enforcement without discrimination, focusing on dismantling, correcting, and blocking long-standing criminal problems by addressing root causes, planning systematic suppression and prevention, and implementing concrete, sustainable measures. The effort includes tracing entire networks following guidance from the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, under the principle of “closing names, holding behaviors accountable.”
“Anyone found involved in or supporting these offenses will face decisive legal action, prioritizing the national interest. The government has assigned the Ministry of Interior, through the Department of Provincial Administration, to establish the Registration Security Anti-Threat Center (DOPA N.I.C.E. - Center) to receive tips on offenses and coordinate registration and nationality-related prosecutions. The government will continue closing loopholes in registration security, ensuring registration is a protective shield for the country, not a tool for exploitation.”
Mr. Naruecha Kosasivilai, Director-General of the Department of Provincial Administration, said the operation was a joint effort between the Chaiprakan District Registration Crime Prevention Unit and the National Anti-Corruption Commission, uncovering illegal registration of stateless persons totaling 5,044 cases. Offenders deliberately left fingerprints incomplete to evade central system checks, fabricated false witnesses to add names to household registries, and assigned names differing from passports to falsify information in applying for 'zero number' ID cards. These individuals did not reside in the registered areas. Unusual spikes in name additions led to evidence collection and formal complaints filed with Chaiprakan Police.
“The investigation resulted in 36 arrest warrants and 12 search warrants against 35 suspects: one government official charged with dereliction of duty, 11 accomplice witnesses, and 23 foreigners providing false information. These acts constitute document forgery and severely harm national security and the economy by diverting resources meant for Thai citizens. Authorities will expand the investigation thoroughly, as corruption may exceed the 5,044 identified cases. Of the three implicated government officials, one remains alive; the province has ordered suspension from duty pending further action,” added the Director-General.
Police General Samran Nualma, Deputy Commissioner of the Royal Thai Police, said efforts to combat transnational crime and illegal immigration have been ongoing, including tackling nominee landholding schemes on behalf of foreigners. Seven phases of such operations have reclaimed 309 land plots totaling 217 rai (approx. 34.7 hectares) valued at about 4.34 billion baht in key tourist areas like Koh Phangan, Phuket, Chonburi, and Chiang Mai. Additionally, operations targeted the “Pho Thip” network, which fraudulently issued identity rights to about 1,494 children via two hospitals, and nationwide crackdowns on ID card fraud have been conducted to protect national resources.
Regarding progress in Chaiprakan District, investigations have reviewed data from 2016 to present. Authorities have prosecuted several offender groups, including one district chief official (two others deceased), two landlords providing shelter, eight village chiefs and headmen, and 23 foreigners using fraudulent ID cards. These offenders used the 'zero number' ID cards (10-year stateless person cards) to illegally access benefits such as labor rights, social security, and bank accounts, thereby diverting state resources and welfare meant for Thai citizens.
To decisively resolve the issue as directed by the Prime Minister and Deputy Minister of Interior, the Royal Thai Police plan to integrate data with related agencies. A key approach is linking Department of Provincial Administration data with Immigration Bureau records. Possession of both a 'zero number' ID card and a foreign passport will clearly indicate offenses, enabling immediate filtering of violators. Proposals are also under consideration to suspend or revoke rights of suspicious cardholders in large numbers, allowing genuine stateless persons to appeal later to expedite removal of fraudsters while respecting human rights.