Pictures courtesy of Matichon

 

Police have dismantled a criminal network producing fake national ID cards, arresting 10 people including six state officials, for their involvement in enabling foreign nationals to obtain fraudulent Thai identities. The arrests were announced on 12 September 2025 by the Crime Suppression Division (CSD) following an operation in Pathum Thani and Nonthaburi. Officials confirmed that several pieces of evidence were seized and all suspects were transferred to investigators for prosecution.

 

The case stems from an April 2025 complaint about advertisements on Chinese social media platform Xiaohongshu (XHS), offering Thai ID card services. Investigations revealed a large-scale operation producing counterfeit documents for foreigners. On 23 July 2025, police arrested nine suspects linked to the scheme, including those who issued and endorsed the fake IDs, alongside the seizure of evidence.

 

Further inquiries led to the identification of additional suspects, including four brokers and six state officials. Arrest warrants were issued by the Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Region 1. On 11 September 2025, police raided two locations and detained all 10 suspects.

 

The brokers, identified as Surin, 56; Niphaphon, 33; Phonthakorn, 34; and Wichai, 37, were accused of arranging clients, recruiting stand-ins and liaising with complicit officials. They face charges of supporting misconduct by state officials, falsifying government documents and assisting non-Thai nationals to fraudulently apply for ID cards.

 

The six officials, Chanidapha, 50; Peeraya, 43; Thanat, 48; Thanawat, 37; Konlapath, 32; and Cholticha, 34, were allegedly responsible for manipulating household registries and issuing false documentation. Charges against them include corruption, forgery and abuse of office to benefit non-Thai nationals. Some suspects have confessed, while others deny involvement.

 

Police reported that brokers matched foreigners to deceased individuals who had not been formally registered as dead, selecting candidates with similar appearance and age. Fees reportedly began in the hundreds of thousands of baht per ID, depending on complexity. The scheme has operated since at least 2024 and more than 10 foreigners are believed to have received false IDs. Authorities estimate that the true scale of the operation is larger and have confirmed that 70% of the network has been dismantled.

 

Assistant Superintendent Adisorn Inthiyas stated that investigations will continue to uncover the full financial scope of the gang and track remaining members. Foreign nationals found using the forged IDs will face criminal charges under Thai law and subsequent deportation. Officials urged state employees and citizens not to engage in similar crimes, warning that illicit profits are outweighed by the costs from prosecution.

 

 

Key Takeaways

 

• Police arrested 10 people, including six state officials, in a fake ID card operation.

• The network forged documents for foreigners by using identities of deceased Thais.

• Authorities say 70% of the network is dismantled, with further investigations ongoing.

 

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  Adapted by Asean Now from Matichon 2025-09-13

 

 

 

 

Damn I could use one of those for Doi Suthep and other parks