A Sri Lankan man has been arrested at Suvarnabhumi Airport after allegedly attempting to board a flight to London using a fake Canadian passport, prompting Thai immigration authorities to expand their investigation into a suspected transnational criminal network.

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The arrest forms part of a nationwide crackdown ordered by National Police Chief Pol Gen Kitrat Phanphet, who has instructed all units to intensify efforts to identify illegal foreign nationals and dismantle transnational crime networks operating through Thailand. The operation is being overseen by Pol Lt Gen Phanumas Boonyalak, Commissioner of the Immigration Bureau, and Pol Maj Gen Kathathorn Kumthieng, Commander of Immigration Division 2.

At around 12pm on 31 May 2026, investigators from Immigration Division 2 were alerted by Thai Airways staff to a suspicious foreign passenger at Gate C5 at Suvarnabhumi Airport. The man was carrying a Canadian passport and was scheduled to travel on Thai Airways flight TG916 from Bangkok to London Heathrow.

Further checks revealed the passenger was in fact a Sri Lankan national identified only as Mr K, aged 20. Immigration officials found that he had entered Thailand using a Sri Lankan passport and he also presented travel documentation for a separate itinerary from Bangkok to Mumbai, India, with a connecting flight to Colombo, Sri Lanka.

A detailed examination of the Canadian passport found in his possession determined that the document was counterfeit. Mr K was subsequently arrested and handed over to investigators to face charges relating to the use of a forged travel document and other relevant offences.

Authorities said the investigation did not stop with the arrest. Immigration Division 2 officers examined immigration records and discovered that the identity shown on the fake Canadian passport had previously entered Thailand and was still in the country. His details were immediately added to an immigration watchlist.

Later that afternoon, immigration officers at Don Mueang Airport reported that a man matching that watchlist entry was preparing to leave Thailand on AirAsia flight AK887 from Bangkok to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, using another Canadian passport in the same name, as the fake one.

Thaitabloid reported that investigators also seized his mobile phone and reportedly found messages from another individual containing instructions on how to respond to immigration officers, with links and messages to the arrested Sri Lankan suspect.

Immigration authorities have since revoked both suspects permission to remain in Thailand and placed them in detention while investigators seek further evidence. Officials said enquiries will continue into the source of the forged passport, travel arrangements, facilitators and any other individuals connected to the network.

Pol Maj Gen Kathathorn said Thailand’s airports must not be used as transit points for transnational criminals and pledged that investigations would continue until all organisers, document suppliers, coordinators and supporters involved in the operation are identified and prosecuted.

Picture courtesy of Thaitabloid

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Adapted by ASEAN Now Thaitabloid 1 June 2026

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Doesn't sound much like "transnational" crime. Criminals from Sri Lanka are rather thin on the ground here.

Bozo went through Immigration in & out on his Sri Lankan passport. right? He was already at the gate! Unless he had Johnny Canuck's passport in his hand, what's the reason giving for the search? Many people are nervous about flying, so can't see that.

Did Johnny Canuck sell this guy his passport? If so, must've been small beer. Travelable passports fetch great sums, ones which it is unlikely Sri could afford.

And the photo. The photo in my Canadian passport is scanned right onto very fancy, glow-in-the-dark paper with security features and then covered with an integral layer of plastic. This is not a Photoshop operation!

My guess is that this is illegal immigration into the UK rather than "crime". The question remains, why did Johnny Canuck sell Sri his passport and then report it lost. Hope we hear more about this story.

Will Johnny be kicked out for selling his passport (prove it) and for facilitating Sri's passage through Immigration?