Thai immigration officers and the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) have arrested a South Korean man in Phuket who was allegedly wanted under an Interpol Red Notice. The man, identified only as Mr Lee, was arrested on 12 August 2026 at about 7pm at a condominium in Phuket's Muang district. Immigration said he had overstayed his permitted stay by 2,992 days. Wanted over fraud and drug allegations The arrest followed information shared by South Korean police, South Korean intelligence agencies and the Royal Thai Police's Foreign Affairs Division, Thai Immigration said. Mr Lee was listed in Interpol Red Notice A-8537/8-2018, issued on 13 August 2018, over alleged fraud and the international import and export of drugs and cannabis. Police said that from early 2018 until the present, Mr Lee and others had allegedly defrauded people of more than 800 million won. He was also alleged to have led a group exporting drugs and cannabis from Thailand to South Korea, where they were reportedly sold online to drug dealers. Authorities said further checks found records of more than 23 alleged cases involving drugs and other offences, including prostitution, assault and fraud. Tourist visa expired in 2018 Biometric records showed Mr Lee entered Thailand through Phuket International Airport on 6 March 2018 on a tourist visa. He was permitted to remain until 3 June 2018, according to Immigration. Officers from Immigration Division 6, Immigration Division 2, Phuket Immigration and the ONCB monitored the condominium before approaching a man matching Mr Lee's description. Immigration said he confirmed that he was the person named in the Red Notice and consented to a search of his room. Officers seized a mobile telephone and three debit cards, which they believe may have been used in criminal activity. Thai authorities said they would continue investigating with South Korean officials. Mr Lee was initially charged with remaining in Thailand after his permission to stay had expired. He was informed of his rights and handed to investigators for further legal action. The operation was conducted under the direction of Immigration Bureau commissioner Pol Lt Gen Phanumas Boonyaluck, his deputies Pol Maj Gen Phanthana Nutchanart and Pol Maj Gen Thanit Thaiwatcharamas, and ONCB secretary-general Pol Maj Gen Suriya Singhakamol. Pol Maj Gen Phanthana said Immigration would continue working with Thai and overseas security agencies to trace people subject to international notices. He said Thailand would not be a refuge for fugitives or transnational criminals and that foreign nationals deemed a threat to security or public order would face legal action. Picture courtesy of Komchadluek Join the discussion? 14 August 2026
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