No fewer than 11 Nigerians have been arrested by Thai immigration and police authorities following the bust of a suspected international romance fraud syndicate operating in the Muang Thong Thani area of Thailand.
The arrests were carried out on Monday after a coordinated operation by security agencies and were reported on Thursday by local media outlet Thailand News.
According to the report, the investigation was triggered by a complaint lodged in late 2025 by a Thai woman in Nong Khai, who alleged that she was defrauded by a Facebook user posing as a Chinese engineer.
The victim reportedly told investigators that the suspect, identified online as “Bingwen Fu,” built a romantic relationship with her before claiming he was unable to access funds needed for a construction project.
She was allegedly persuaded to transfer more than two million baht into accounts later identified as mule accounts.
Thailand News reported that police tracked the financial transactions, arrested the Thai account holders involved, and subsequently uncovered a well-organised criminal network behind the scheme.
“The group was found to be operating from a condominium in Nonthaburi, with members assigned different roles, including online scammers, cash handlers, and recruiters of bank accounts,” the report stated.
Following intelligence gathered during the investigation, the Commissioner of Thailand’s Immigration Bureau, Pol Lt Gen Phanumas Boonyaluck, authorised a joint raid on the suspects’ hideout.
Officers reportedly found the suspects actively engaging in live romance scams using electronic devices.
A total of 13 suspects, 11 Nigerians and two Ivorians, were arrested during the operation. Some of the suspects allegedly attempted to escape barefoot but were apprehended by officers.
Authorities disclosed that eight of the suspects had overstayed their visas, while five Nigerians admitted to entering Thailand illegally through the Laos border.
All suspects are facing charges related to visa violations and illegal entry.
Security operatives also seized 34 electronic devices, including laptops and mobile phones, which reportedly contained evidence of coordinated fraud involving impersonation of wealthy European and Asian personalities to target both Thai and foreign women.
Investigators further revealed that the operation was linked to the earlier Nong Khai complaint and that proceeds from the scams were allegedly transferred to Nigeria through cryptocurrency channels.
Police said investigations are ongoing to dismantle the wider network and identify additional collaborators.
The arrests come barely a week after DAILY POST reported that another Nigerian national was arrested in Thailand over alleged drug-related offences.
Recall that a Thailand-based Nigerian, Ukoma Jefta Nuzbech, was recently arrested after allegedly absconding from an ongoing trial linked to a drug-peddling case in the Koh Pha Ngan area.
Nuzbech was first arrested in March 2025 after he was accused of selling 25.71 grams of cocaine to an undercover police officer.
Eleven Nigerians nabbed in Thailand over alleged romance scam network
