Crime
Russian Extortionist Extradited Back to Thailand
A Russian suspect wanted in the extortion of 1.8 million baht in cryptocurrencies from a Russian realtor couple on Koh Samui was apprehended in Kazakhstan over two years after going on the run, bringing the total number of foreign suspects seized to six.
Interpol apprehended Danil Ugay in Kazakhstan, and he was flown back to Thailand via Suvarnabhumi airport by Air Astana on Friday evening.
On October 3, 2022, the Koh Samui Provincial Court issued an arrest warrant for the 43-year-old Russian for cooperation in stealing, physical assault without causing bodily or mental harm, and coercion through implied threats.
Pol Lt Gen Suraphong Thanomjit, commissioner of the Provincial Police Region 8, has dispatched a police team to return the suspect to Koh Samui, a popular tourist island in Surat Thani province.
The police presented him the arrest warrant, and the suspect confirmed to being the person described in it. Officers then escorted him to the Koh Samui airport. He was then led to the Koh Samui police station.
Evgenii Abdullin, 31, and his wife Ekaterna Abdullin, 31, both Russian nationals, submitted a complaint with Pol Lt Col Udomsak Thappa, the investigation chief at Koh Samui station, on September 15, 2022.
The couple stated that four foreign males arrived in a black vehicle and two other foreign men on a red motorcycle confronted them in a coffee shop on Koh Samui. The group threatened them and demanded 1.8 million baht.
Police launched an investigation, which led to the identification of the suspects – three Kazakhstani nationalities, two German nationals, and one Russian.
Russian Apprehended in Pattaya, Thailand
Andrey Nizhegorodtsev, a 37-year-old Kazakhstani who served as the gang’s head, was caught in Pattaya, Chon Buri, on September 28, 2022. Four others were apprehended on Koh Samui, but the final suspect, Mr Ugay, managed to flee before being apprehended by Interpol.
The suspects in the extortion case ran businesses and traveled between four provinces, Chon Buri, Samut Prakan, Phuket, and Surat Thani, according to police.
In recent years, Thailand has seen an upsurge in criminality involving Russian nationals, notably in major tourist spots such as Phuket. According to reports, more than 180 foreigners, the majority of whom are Russians, have faced criminal charges in Phuket since the beginning of this year. This tendency has generated concerns and sparked debate regarding the effects of these acts on local communities.
Extortion instances involving Russian gangs targeting tourists, as well as tensions originating from the aftermath of the Ukrainian war, have sparked concern in Thailand.
In a recent incident, the murder of 41-year-old Russian national, Mr. Artur Mkhitarian, sent shockwaves through Phuket. The suspect involved in the case fled Thailand, leaving authorities with a challenging investigation to pursue justice in the matter.
Another case involves a 34-year-old Russian fugitive who had been staying in Thailand for over a decade. Wanted in Russia for drug-related offenses, the arrest of this individual highlighted the complex nature of transnational crime networks operating in the region.
With tales of “Russian-only” enterprises provoking resentment and Russian fugitives seeking asylum in Thailand, the dynamics of Russian crime in Thailand are complex and ever-changing.
Phuket a Hotbed of Russian Crime
Phuket has evolved as a hotbed for Russian criminal activities due to a variety of reasons. The island’s booming tourism economy draws a large number of Russian visitors, expatriates, and people seeking asylum. With the influx of Russian immigrants, there has been an upsurge in criminal activity within this demographic.
The attractiveness of Phuket’s nightlife, entertainment venues, and the ease of fitting in with a diverse audience have made it an appealing destination for criminal elements.
Russian criminal syndicates seek opportunities to operate in the region, taking advantage of the hectic atmosphere and obscurity that a major tourist destination offers.
As law enforcement officials try to solve these challenges while maintaining safety and order, recognizing the complexity of Russian crimes in Thailand becomes critical. Stay tuned as we explore deeper into the specifics, ramifications, and potential solutions to this disturbing trend.
The presence of Russian crime gangs in Thailand has caused social difficulties in the local society. While not all Russian enterprises are associated with criminal groups, locals believe that certain Russian-owned establishments in towns such as Pattaya may be involved in illegal activities.
This impression can foster suspicion and hatred, resulting in poor ties between Thai citizens and the Russian expatriate population.
Furthermore, concerns about security and public safety have grown as a result of Russian criminal organizations’ involvement, causing widespread disquiet and dread.
Police in Northern Thailand have arrested a fellow officer as he was being ordained at a temple in Ngao district of neighbouring Lampang province.
Pol Lt Col Bandit Khonkan chief inspector from the Hang Dong police station was disrobed and taken to the Chang Puak station in Chiang Mai. He was arrested on charges of running a call centre scam gang in Chiang Mai Province.
According to Thai Media Chiang Mai Provincial Police Region 5 obtained an arrest warrant for Pol Lt Col Bandit on Friday from the Chiang Mai Provincial Court for procuring illegal telecom equipment, setting up a station and using public airwaves to run a telecommunications business without permission.
Pol Lt Col Bandit reportedly told investigators that he was not the ringleader and was only a member of the gang with Chinese partners.
His arrest followed the apprehension of his 26-year-old daughter, Miss Wanuchapond, 26, and three others during raids at three housing projects in Chiang Mai on Friday, Pol Maj Gen Weerachon Boontawee, deputy chief of Provincial Police Region 5 told Thai media.
During the raids police police discovered around 12 GSM gateways, or SIM boxes, which are devices used for converting cellular networks into mobile phone numbers used domestically.
The chief inspectors daughter Miss Wanuchapond told the arresting officers that she was paid 8,000 baht a month at each of the three locations for renting thr rooms and monitoring devices.
She claimed she had no idea what the devices were and accepted the job because the pay was attractive.
Police investigators working with telecom regulators used a special tracking device to monitor the gang’s communications and learned that its base was in Myanmar opposite Mae Sai district of Chiang Rai.
The call center gang used the GSM gateways to make calls over the internet to scam people in Thailand out of million of baht.
The GSM gateways transmitting signals via SIM boxes to convert them into domestic phone numbers, duping victims into thinking they were being called from Thai government agencies.
Pol Maj Gen Weerachon said that each SIM box held 32 SIM cards, with a capacity of up to 300,000 calls a month. The seized devices had made fraudulent calls over 3.6 million times.
He said the their investigation is ongoing and they are working to track down the remaining conspirators, including Chinese and other Thai suspects.
Authorities are still deciding whether Pol Lt Col Bandit will be dismissed from the force, he said, adding that so far, no other officers are known to have been involved.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Settha Thavisin has authorized the establishment of an emergency cyber center operated by the Royal Thai Police to combat transnational crimes committed by call center gangs along the Thai border in Chiang Rai province.
On July 19, Prime Minister Settha Thavisin directed the Center to combat information technology crimes. The Royal Thai Police (Royal Thai Police) will crack down on call center gangs in Myanmar, Laos, and along the border.
His directive comes as call center gangs ratchet up their scams to defraud people of their money, causing concern among Thais and jeopardizing the country’s economic and social stability.
Related Police News:
Machete Wielding Man Shot an Killed by Police in Chiang Rai
https://www.chiangraitimes.com/chiangrai-news/machete-wielding-man-shot-an-killed-by-police-in-chiang-rai/
Immigration police officers have arrested four Colombian nationals in connection with a series of home burglaries at luxury housing complexes in the Bangkok metropolitan area and Chiang Buri Province.
Pol Maj Gen Panthana Nuchanart, deputy commissioner of the Immigration Bureau, told a press briefing that three of the suspects were apprehended in Nonthaburi Province and the fourth in South Pattaya, Chon Buri Province.
According to the Bangkok Post, the Colombians were charged with stealing conspiracy and seized around 3 million baht (US$82,500.00).
According to Pol Maj Gen Panthana, the criminals rode motorcycles through housing estates, scoping out the properties and waiting for the owners to depart before committing their crimes.
He stated that all four of the accused denied any involvement in the home break-ins, but the arresting squad discovered evidence that implicated them.
Police called to home invasion
Meanwhile, police were dispatched to a luxury housing development in Tambon Nong Prue, Chonburi Province, after a Chinese man was attacked during a house invasion.
When they arrived, they discovered the house owner, Mr. Qian Peng Yi, visibly scared and with marks from being tied up with a cable. He informed police that three Chinese males broke into his home at 9 p.m., one of whom brandished a gun at him and directed him to his bedroom.
They bound his hands and feet, gagged him with fabric, taped his head, and forced him into the bed. The intruders then attempted to compel him into transferring 10 million baht in cryptocurrencies to them, endangering the life of his 33-year-old cousin who was in a second-floor bedroom.
While they scoured the house in search of riches, Mr. Peng Yi managed to flee and hide; he subsequently observed them leave with his cousin. Officials investigated the property and analyzed security camera footage from the incident and surrounding areas.
Around 9 p.m., a 30-year-old van driver came at the Bang Lamung police station after being contacted by an agency to carry Chinese customers from Pattaya to Suvarnabhumi Airport.
The driver informed authorities that he was supposed to pick them up at a motel about a kilometer from the Chinese businessman’s home. He then drove them to Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi airport, arriving at 1 a.m. and receiving 1,800 baht.
The driver took a snapshot of the group smoking at the airport gate and identified one of them as the victim’s cousin. Police suspected coordination between her and the three suspects in her cousin’s heist, who all departed Thailand on the same aircraft.
Other Bangkok News:
Police in Bangkok Discover Six Vietnamese Tourists Dead in 5 Star Hotel
Police in Bangkok Discover Six Vietnamese Tourists Dead in 5 Star Hotel
Crime
Son of Thailand’s Leading Legal Scholar on Corruption Arrested for Running Online Gambling Network
The son of a former senator and leading economist and expert on corruption and gambling in Thailand has been arrested for on charges of running an online gambling network and its payment system.
Police from Thailand’s Technology Crime Suppression Division (TCSD) have confiscated assets worth more than (US$ 11.1 million) 400 million baht.
Narote Piriyarangsan, 33, was arrested following crackdowns in three sites around the city, according to Pol Maj Gen Athip Pongsiwapai, commander of the police Technology Crime Suppression Division (TCSD).
Mr Narote’s father, Sangsit Piriyarangsan, is an economist who has written articles and books about corruption and gambling. He was one of the appointed senators that were investigating the government’s intention to legalize casino gaming before their terms expired.
Police also detained 39-year-old Narayut Narakaew, the owner of the gambling website 69pgslot.com. The Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for the couple for operating an internet gambling service and money laundering.
According to the Bangkok Post, police seized two desktop computers, one laptop computer, 14 mobile phones, 21 bank passbooks, 53 ATM cards, and four high-end cars — a Ferrari 926 GTS, an Aston Martin, a Lexus, and a Subaru — totaling more than 400 million baht.
Police launched the inquiry after discovering the online gambling site, which accepted funds via an automatic deposit-withdrawal system through bank accounts and deposits in the AskMePay system. Players scanned the VPay QR code as well as the QR codes for Heng Online 888 or Heng Pay Company.
Police also discovered that payments received via QR code scans were transferred to the account of Heng Pay Co and then to the gambling website’s mule accounts using AskMePay, which did not use banks’ face recognition scanning. An inquiry indicated a monthly turnover of approximately 5 billion baht.
According to investigators, the website has been up and running for around four years, with the payment mechanism in use for roughly eight months.
According to Pol Maj Gen Athip, Mr Narote owns the gaming website’s payment systems and is the director of Heng Pay Co. After gathering evidence, authorities requested arrest warrants for 14 people.
Thailand does not allow almost any kind of gaming. Even though the law doesn’t say anything specific about online gaming, it is still considered gambling. The country has pretty strict rules about gambling. Thai punters can bet on the national lottery and horse races, but they can’t bet on any other types of games.
But it’s not a secret that there is a huge illegal gaming business in Thailand, even though it’s illegal.
The illegal casinos, online betting shops, underground lotteries, and pop-up bookies that take bets on everything from cockfights to Muay Thai make a shadow economy that is worth billions of dollars every year.
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Thailand’s Cyber Crime Police Raid Top Cops Home Over Gambling Websites
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