Thai police gear up for increase in international crime post pandemic - favorable conditions attract international criminals

[webfact]

Picture: Daily News

 

Thai media Daily News said that the country was readying itself for an increase in international crime post pandemic as Thailand increasingly opens up. 

 

And they speculated that such crime could be worse than ever. 

 

Comments by a senior police inspector suggested that the geographical location of the country and its favorable conditions made it an ideal base for crime in other countries, crime within the country and as a hideout for international fugitives. 

 

Commenting was national police inspector Pol Gen Wisanu Prasatthongosot who is in charge of international crime and illegal entry into the kingdom. 

 

Picture: Daily News

 

He said that Thailand was a crossroads in the region that made it an ideal place for international crime such as "cyber crime", money laundering through fake companies and a myriad of other illegal activity.

 

Through informants and work with agencies like Interpol and Thai Immigration the RTP would be redoubling their efforts as the country increasingly reopens after the pandemic. 

 

He said that Thai immigration have around 30 million people on its Biometrics database using facial recognition and fingerprinting to identify banned persons. 

 

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This would help to stop the practice of criminals simply changing their name and getting new travel documents abroad. 

 

In addition CCTV at border points and airports was helping to identify cars as well as people crossing into Thailand.

 

Picture: Daily News

 

He said the favorable living conditions in Thailand with its reasonable cost of living meant it was a preferred place for international criminals masquerading as "tourists".

 

He specifically mentioned fugitives from Europe, the US and Australia involved in mafia activities, drugs, human trafficking, money laundering and fraud. 

 

Much crime was committed within Thailand by gangs from Africa and East Asia. He specified scammers, human trafficking, online betting and the falsification of documents.

 

South Asians and Africans were involved in Romance Scams, theft and diamond theft in the gems business.

 

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[Excel]

He never mentioned the increase in Indians suddenly starting to have the necklaces stolen worth 10s of 1000s of baht. Seems like the crime wave is already on the roll.

[BritManToo]

No Chinese = little crime.

(Obviously excluding the Indian gold snatched by ladyboys)

Edited June 1, 2022 by BritManToo

[worgeordie]

38 minutes ago, webfact said:

Comments by a senior police inspector suggested that the geographical location of the country and its favorable conditions made it an ideal base for crime in other countries, crime within the country and as a hideout for international fugitives.

It has always been like that ,Pattaya is like a magnet for those

on the run. plenty of work for the police to do ......????

regards Worgeordie

[richard_smith237]

48 minutes ago, webfact said:

He said that Thailand was a crossroads in the region that made it an ideal place for international crime such as "cyber crime", money laundering through fake companies and a myriad of other illegal activity.

 

WRONG.....  A totally apathetic, corrupt and ineffective police force is what makes Thailand the ideal place for criminals to either hide and / or operate. 

 

 

 

 

[Thailand]

Might be a good idea to do away with those mask thingies so the BIB can identify the thousands of criminals about to arrive.

[Orinoco]

What a crock of. 

Thailand needs to sort it's self out first,  before pointing fingers.

But it's all part of the massive blame game culture of Thailand. 

 

 

 

[BestB]

Yes its the foreigners again, not the locals who had no choice but to turn to crime to survive during past 2 years.

[starky]

Finally! The "high value" tourists we have heard so much about are coming to Thailand's shores. 

[vandeventer]

13 minutes ago, BestB said:

Yes its the foreigners again, not the locals who had no choice but to turn to crime to survive during past 2 years.

It would be nice if we lived in a prefect world! So if you don't want more tourist coming in, don't let them in. Or you could hire more crime busters to take care of the problem. More specialized police.

[The Hammer2021]

Absurd. International crime is web based these days.

London is probably  the world  capital of international crime and its not tourists! Its murderers and money laundering!

Foreigners  commiting crime is a more realistic  headline for Thai issues.

[mr_lob]

I would be more worried about the biggest domestic gang of crims....the BIB have had a distinct lack of brown envelopes over the last 2 years

[RandiRona]

With that rampant corruption, who thunk??

[Nsp64]

Notice they never call it a hub when its negative news.

[sambum]

Commenting was national police inspector Pol Gen Wisanu Prasatthongosot who is in charge of international crime and illegal entry into the kingdom. 

 

Woud that be in facilitating it or preventing it? ???? 

[sambum]

2 minutes ago, Nsp64 said:

Notice they never call it a hub when its negative news.

Yes, although "Hub of International Crime" does have a certain ring to it!

[kcpattaya]

"Shane Kenneth Looker" got away with an "8 years' sentence" after killing and cutting up a Thai bar hostess...
So, yes, Thailand seems a haven for murderers and criminals.
 

[Pib]

A "head fake" to avoid talking about high domestic crime and Thai criminals.

[Millcx]

55555555555555 Love a good laugh in morning … The masks will stop it “;0)

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, Excel said:

He never mentioned the increase in Indians suddenly starting to have the necklaces stolen worth 10s of 1000s of baht. Seems like the crime wave is already on the roll.

Just domestic at this time.

[hotchilli]

2 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

WRONG.....  A totally apathetic, corrupt and ineffective police force is what makes Thailand the ideal place for criminals to either hide and / or operate. 

 

 

 

 

And some who benefit from the extra income.

[spidermike007]

Yes, we foreigners are terrible, and a huge threat to the moral sanctity of a very pure nation. The locals are not of much concern, especially the ones with money and connections. The world is a dangerous place. 

 

Comments by a senior police inspector suggested that the geographical location of the country and its favorable conditions made it an ideal base for crime in other countries, crime within the country and as a hideout for international fugitives. 

 

Though there is some truth to the hideout part, it is likely less now than previously, so what this goon should have said, is that with the economy decimated by very, very poor and sustained anemic leadership, Thailand is a victim of itself. Much of the local population is now more desperate than ever, for some cash. The true threat lies from within. Admit it.

Edited June 1, 2022 by spidermike007

[Isaan sailor]

Good thing we have no Chinese gangs…..no, wait a minute….

[Chiang Mai Will]

How can the RTP, which is riddled with corruption of varying degrees, hope to control international gangs of crime operating in the Kingdom?

 

Too many high-ranking officers will be receptive to bribes -- even many of the the low-ranking police take bribes! 

 

Taking bribes is a way of life for Thai officials. Those at the top are far too vulnerable to weed out the lower ranks. What a paradox!

[Tarteso]

National man, National..

[RichardColeman]

Thai police gear up for increase in international crime post pandemic 

Small minded xenophobic bunch of idiots leading the country

[Orinoco]

Only took one week before they turned the tables on us.

what a joke.

They are a disgrace to the uniforms they wear. 

 

 

[sawadee1947]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

redoubling their efforts 

Does it mean redoubling useless lazy incapable corrupt Police?????

 

 

[jerrymahoney]

OK the usual pot-kettle-black but every now-&-then there is something like this:

Monday, November 18, 2019
Alleged Cryptocurrency Fraudster Extradited From Thailand to Face Charges in Multi-Million Dollar Investment Scheme
A citizen of Sweden has been extradited from Thailand to the United States today to stand trial for alleged securities fraud, wire fraud and money laundering.

 

https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/alleged-cryptocurrency-fraudster-extradited-thailand-face-charges-multi-million-dollar

[wwest5829]

Pol Gen Wisanu Prasatthongosot

National Police Inspector

 

Sir,

First I apologize for my lack of ability to write in the Thai language. At age 75, I have struggled with the language even as my Thai Wife and Stepdaughter have struggled with English. Still, allow me to suggest some way to free up Policing duties in order to address any rise in "foreigner" criminal activity.

 

My recommendation would be to work with Royal Thai  Immigration, clearing the need to deal with those of us long term stay foreigners who have established a long term residency in Thailand which is trouble free. A new category of "Permanent Residency", aimed at the long term foreign retirees, meeting "Extension of Stay" requirements and having Thai families should be recognized as "Permanent Residents". This is a category of foreigners, in the data base with which you would little, if any concern.