Japanese Call Centre Gang Leader Arrested in Bangkok

A Japanese national accused of leading a major call centre fraud network operating from Cambodia has been arrested in Bangkok, in a joint operation involving Thai and Japanese authorities.

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On 6 June 2026, officers from Thailand’s Immigration Bureau arrested 39-year-old Japanese suspect Mr Sasaki in the Thonglor area of Bangkok. Authorities said he was the leader of a Japanese call centre gang based in Poipet, Cambodia, which allegedly defrauded victims in Japan and caused losses amounting to several billion yen.

The arrest was carried out under the direction of Pol Gen Thatchai Pitaneelaboot, Deputy National Police Chief and Director of the Anti-Human Trafficking Centre, following cooperation between Thai and Japanese law enforcement agencies. The operation formed part of a wider crackdown ordered by Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and National Police Chief Pol Gen Kittirat Phanphet against call centre scams and human trafficking networks.

According to Japanese authorities, Mr Sasaki is wanted under an arrest warrant issued by the Nagoya Court on 1 April 2026 for fraud-related offences. Investigators identified him as a key figure directing a transnational criminal network linked to call centre operations targeting Japanese citizens.

The investigation began after Japanese police expanded inquiries into scam networks operating in Cambodia. Authorities determined that Mr Sasaki was allegedly the senior leader of the operation and maintained connections across several countries before reportedly hiding in Thailand with his family.

Thailand’s Anti-Human Trafficking Centre subsequently tasked the Immigration Bureau with locating the suspect. Investigators tracked him to Bangkok, where he was arrested without incident and is expected to be transferred to Japanese authorities for further legal proceedings.

Japanese investigators also reported that the network has links to transnational organised crime groups using Cambodia as an operational base. The group allegedly carried out fraudulent schemes through call centres and may have been involved in recruiting and forcing individuals to work within the organisation, behaviour authorities described as consistent with cross-border human trafficking.

Thaitabloid reported that Pol Gen Thatchai said suppressing call centre gangs and human trafficking networks remains a key priority of both the Prime Minister and the Royal Thai Police. He stressed that international cooperation is essential to prevent Thailand being used as a transit point for people trafficked into scam compounds in neighbouring countries and to dismantle major criminal networks by targeting their leaders.

Pictures courtesy of Thaitabloid

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Adapted by ASEAN Now Thaitabloid 7 June 2026

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