Nigerian Caught in Nonthaburi with 7 Bank Cards and 42 Phones

Police in Nonthaburi have arrested Sinedu Heophilus Acege, a 24-year-old Nigerian man, suspected of being involved in a romance scam network. Officers initially encountered Acege during a suspicious ATM transaction, leading to the discovery of multiple mobile phones and ATM cards. This has prompted an expanded investigation into his activities and connections.

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Authorities were conducting routine patrols targeting illegal activities by foreign nationals when they apprehended Acege on Nonthaburi 1 Road. A search of his condominium subsequently revealed an additional 35 mobile phones. Acege claimed these items belonged to his Thai girlfriend, Apaporn, who he said ran a legitimate mobile phone business in Bangkok.

However, further investigation revealed that Apaporn is wanted for 23 online fraud and romance scam cases across several provinces, including Nonthaburi and Phuket. Although Acege denies involvement in these scams, police suspect otherwise but require more evidence to file additional charges.

Currently, Acege faces charges under Section 269 of the Criminal Law for possessing or using someone else’s electronic payment card, a crime punishable by up to three years in prison and a fine of up to 60,000 baht. Police are continuing their investigation to verify Acege's claims and efforts to locate Apaporn are ongoing.

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  Adapted by ASEAN Now · The Thaiger · 21 May 2026