A Russian national wanted under an Interpol Red Notice has been arrested at a villa in Phuket after immigration investigators tracked his whereabouts. The suspect, identified only as Igor, is accused by Russian authorities of involvement in document forgery and fraud offences that allegedly caused losses exceeding 150 million baht.
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The arrest followed a crackdown ordered by senior officers of Thailand’s Immigration Bureau targeting foreign nationals who use Thailand as a refuge while evading prosecution abroad. Investigators from Immigration Division 6 and Phuket Immigration acted on intelligence indicating that a Russian citizen linked to serious financial crimes had entered and was residing in Phuket.
Under the direction of Pol Lt Gen Phanumas Boonyalak, Commissioner of the Immigration Bureau, and senior immigration commanders, officers coordinated with Russian police and the Foreign Affairs Division of the Royal Thai Police. Their enquiries confirmed that Igor was the subject of Interpol Red Notice No. A-6580/4-2026, issued on 27 April 2026, for offences relating to fraud and document forgery.
According to investigators, the suspect allegedly worked with accomplices in early 2025 to forge documents connected to the manufacture of goods that were never produced. Authorities allege the scheme fraudulently obtained more than 70 million baht from a company.
A separate case dating back to 2024 allegedly involved forged procurement and transport documents used to obtain more than 80 million baht from another company. Combined losses from the two alleged fraud schemes exceed 150 million baht.
Immigration officers conducted surveillance and located Igor at a villa in Phuket. At approximately 11.00am on 13 June 2026, officers observed him leaving the property and moved in to arrest him.
Checks of Thailand’s Biometrics system showed that Igor entered Thailand through Phuket International Airport immigration on 7 March 2026. He was initially granted permission to stay on a tourist visa until 5 May 2026 and later received an extension from Phuket Immigration until 4 June 2026.
Authorities found that his permission to remain in Thailand had expired nine days before his arrest. He was therefore charged with remaining in the Kingdom after his permitted stay had ended.
Thaitabloid reported that the suspect has been handed over to investigators for legal proceedings in Thailand. Once those proceedings are completed, immigration authorities said he will be deported to Russia in accordance with immigration procedures.
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Adapted by ASEAN Now Thaitabloid 14 June 2026