Thai Police Arrest 11 Nigerians In Major International Romance Scam Crackdown
Thai immigration and police authorities have arrested 11 Nigerians following the dismantling of a suspected international romance scam syndicate operating in the Muang Thong Thani area of Thailand.
The arrests were carried out on Monday during a joint operation by immigration and police officers and were confirmed on Thursday by local news outlet Thailand News. The operation followed months of investigation triggered by a complaint filed in late 2025 by a Thai woman in Nong Khai, who alleged she was defrauded through an online romantic relationship.
According to police, the victim said she met a Facebook user who posed as a Chinese engineer. After gaining her trust through prolonged communication on Facebook and Line, the suspect allegedly claimed he could not access funds needed for a construction project and persuaded her to transfer more than two million baht into multiple mule accounts.
Financial tracking of the transactions led authorities to identify Thai account holders linked to the scheme, exposing what investigators described as a wider, organised criminal network. The syndicate was reportedly operating from a condominium in Nonthaburi, with members assigned specific roles including online impersonation, cash withdrawals and account recruitment.
Based on intelligence gathered, the Immigration Bureau Commissioner, Pol Lt Gen Phanumas Boonyaluck, authorised a coordinated raid on the location.
Officers said they found suspects actively engaging in online romance scams using laptops and mobile phones at the time of the operation.
A total of 13 suspects — 11 Nigerians and two Ivorians — were arrested during the raid. Some of the suspects reportedly attempted to flee but were apprehended by operatives.
Authorities disclosed that eight of the suspects had overstayed their visas, while five Nigerians were said to have entered Thailand illegally through the Laos border. All suspects were charged with immigration-related offences, including visa overstay and illegal entry.
During the operation, police seized 34 electronic devices, including laptops and mobile phones, which reportedly contained evidence of coordinated online scams involving impersonation of wealthy European and Asian nationals to defraud Thai and foreign women.
Investigators also revealed that proceeds from the alleged scams were transferred to Nigeria through cryptocurrency channels. Police said investigations are ongoing to dismantle the wider network and identify additional accomplices.
The arrests came barely a week after another Nigerian was apprehended in Thailand over alleged drug-related offences.
Thai authorities had earlier arrested Ukoma Jefta Nuzbech, a Nigeria national accused of fleeing an ongoing trial linked to a drug-peddling case in the Koh Pha Ngan area. He was initially arrested in March 2025 for allegedly selling 25.71 grams of cocaine to an undercover police officer.