1 hour ago, Roel said:

1. Ritesh Patel, 43, from Cardiff, was a leader of an organised crime group involved in large-scale cocaine and heroin distribution using fake NHS patient transport vans.

2. He fled to Dubai and then Thailand, where he was arrested in June 2022 for possessing a fraudulent passport.

3. After extradition proceedings (a Thai court ruling in his favor for extradition, an appeal, and a final order in August 2025), he was extradited to the UK in October 2025 with assistance from the National Crime Agency (NCA) and Thai authorities.

A right wrongun! - alleged.

11 minutes ago, boloaf said:

A right wrongun! - alleged.

NB No longer alleged:

Ritesh Patel, 43, from Cathays, Cardiff, was sentenced to 20-years in prison at Newport Crown Court on March 16, 2026, for his role in an OCG responsible for supplying hundreds of kilograms of cocaine and heroin throughout the United Kingdom.

https://www.tarianrocu.org.uk/news/organised-crime-fugitive-sentenced/

1 hour ago, Liverpool Lou said:

What is "behind closed doors" of the Surachate case?

I read this the other day.

“The inquiry was conducted in private at the Supreme Court.”

So I take that to mean not open to the press or public.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/3281909/big-joke-bribe-case-begins

2 hours ago, riverhigh said:

As for Mr. Patel, he has not only lost 6 million baht (no refund policy to the best of my knowledge - smile) but he now faces serious charges of bribing a police officer. The police offices gets sent ot an inactive post while Patel does the time in jail. That's what happens when you dance with the devil. Life is a bitch and then you die.

Haha. 'bribing a police officer ' serious. .. ? But not for Thais .. goes by without being news everyday

4 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

Ridiculous money that can be asked.. What will happen with the accused?? transferred to an inactivate post and the rest business as usual?? There is never a severe punishment in these cases

Is it lack of punishment or lack of cajone on the part of the media.

Remember even if what you say is true here you can be sued for defamation and slander.

Why do you think there are very few bad reports in booking and agoda

3 hours ago, TheFishman1 said:

A few transfers to inactive post maybe some of the higher-ups will take a little piece of the action it’ll all be swept under the table don’t hear anything more about this in a few weeks next TIT

3 hours ago, TheFishman1 said:

A few transfers to inactive post maybe some of the higher-ups will take a little piece of the action it’ll all be swept under the table don’t hear anything more about this in a few weeks next TIT

3 hours ago, TheFishman1 said:

A few transfers to inactive post maybe some of the higher-ups will take a little piece of the action it’ll all be swept under the table don’t hear anything more about this in a few weeks next TIT

I notice that there is a picture of the Brit accused, but no picture of the named police officers, even with faces pixeled.

that’s unusual once suspects are named. Doesn’t make a huge difference except it implies double standards.

4 hours ago, Roel said:

After extradition proceedings (a Thai court ruling in his favor for extradition, an appeal, and a final order in August 2025), he was extradited to the UK in October 2025 with assistance from the National Crime Agency (NCA) and Thai authorities.

What a pity.

That means we British taxpayers have to support this scumbag.

Personally, from what i've read about Thai prisons, I'd rather think of him rotting there! 😡

A bit surprising that they sought to scam Patel out of 6 mil through fully traceable bank accounts. Surely they would have realised there was a serious chance that there would be blow back as he sought revenge?

2 hours ago, kingstonkid said:

Is it lack of punishment or lack of cajone on the part of the media.

Remember even if what you say is true here you can be sued for defamation and slander.

Why do you think there are very few bad reports in booking and agoda

I know that Thailand does not accept critics and the looming defamation accusations are always around. Booking and agoda of course know that too and they will filter them out, but if never nothing can be criticized how can you improve things? Only from mistakes, critics and wrongdoings people learn.. And what I write is not defamation or slander in this case

One thing unclear. Did he use the phony passport to enter Thailand or did he simply have it in his possession when they arrested him?

5 hours ago, JBChiangRai said:

If you think dirty dealings are the exception rather than the rule then you need to understand how promotion happens in the police.

Many new recruits pay an entry fee to get hired. All recruits are given a target of how much they must collect and pass up the line, anything over and above that they get to keep. As you get higher up your target is larger.

Those altruistic new recruits who don’t “play the game” don’t get promoted.

This means practically all higher positions are corrupt. You end up with a police force that is entirely rotten except for some at the lowest rank.

As you get higher up the echelons, you have to buy your promotion also, senior roles can cost half a million dollars or more.

RTP right up to the top have always been referred to as the largest mafia in the world, Mare middle management and above as the lower recruits need corruption training such as "no promotion" till you join us. as we are all loyal to each other" wink wink.

Off topic troll post removed @Ubonian Canadian

6 hours ago, JerryM said:

NB No longer alleged:

Ritesh Patel, 43, from Cathays, Cardiff, was sentenced to 20-years in prison at Newport Crown Court on March 16, 2026, for his role in an OCG responsible for supplying hundreds of kilograms of cocaine and heroin throughout the United Kingdom.

https://www.tarianrocu.org.uk/news/organised-crime-fugitive-sentenced/

More important, why was he given bail in the UK in the first place.

1 hour ago, Geoff914 said:

More important, why was he given bail in the UK in the first place.

NB This is the Press release from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS):

Criminal gang leader jailed for distributing drugs in fake NHS vans

26 March 2026

“Ritesh Patel is a career criminal who prior to this conviction had served a significant sentence for conspiracy to supply drugs. Having been released from that sentence it didn’t take long for him to start offending again in exactly the same way.

“He thought that by being based in Dubai, outside of our jurisdiction, his offending would never catch up with him.

https://www.cps.gov.uk/cps/news/criminal-gang-leader-jailed-distributing-drugs-fake-nhs-vans

40 minutes ago, JerryM said:

NB This is the Press release from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS):

Criminal gang leader jailed for distributing drugs in fake NHS vans

26 March 2026

“Ritesh Patel is a career criminal who prior to this conviction had served a significant sentence for conspiracy to supply drugs. Having been released from that sentence it didn’t take long for him to start offending again in exactly the same way.

“He thought that by being based in Dubai, outside of our jurisdiction, his offending would never catch up with him.

That doesn't really cover why when first arrested in the UK he was given bail. Actually doesn't make it clear where he was when charges were raised. "14 members of the OCG were sentenced to a combined 140-years and nine-months in prison on October 17, 2022. Patel was outside UK jurisdiction when his offending took place, but charges were authorised against him on June 2, 2022. Later that month, Patel was arrested in Thailand for possessing a fraudulent passport. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) applied to have him extradited to the UK to face justice." https://www.tarianrocu.org.uk/news/organised-crime-fugitive-sentenced/

The initial report I read, can't find it now, mentioned being charged and the next day he fled to Thailand. I assumed from the UK.

Does it surprise anybody to see all the corruption in the Police and Immigration Police to be once more exposed ? It's no longer plain corruption in Thailand. It's almost an officious systemic institutionalized business plan. No wonder there are more and more retiree foreigners, who hesitate in investing or purchasing property in Thailand.

Edited July 10Jul 10 by SingAPorn

I think it's really funny this guy paid SIX MILLION baht and they simply pocketed it and sent him packing to the UK.

Thought he was the bee's knees but hadn't reckoned with the depravity of the RTP 555

Edited July 10Jul 10 by BusyB

10 hours ago, wensiensheng said:

I notice that there is a picture of the Brit accused, but no picture of the named police officers, even with faces pixeled.

that’s unusual once suspects are named. Doesn’t make a huge difference except it implies double standards.

The Brit is no longer accused. He's been tried and pleaded guilty so no need to pixelate his image, whereas the Thais are still only suspects, accused but not charged yet.

10 hours ago, VBF said:

What a pity.

That means we British taxpayers have to support this scumbag.

Personally, from what i've read about Thai prisons, I'd rather think of him rotting there! 😡

With enough money, foreign inmates can buy themselves a relatively comfortable existence in a Thai prison, including visits from pr*stitutes or even excursions beyond the walls. Then one day, after the publicity has faded and the spotlight is off, the prison staff will forget to lock the outer door and the inmate will walk away and cross the border to Cambodia.

Without money, foreigners do indeed rot in Thai prisons. But for inmates with money, it's better to sit off a long sentence in a Thai prison compared to the U.K. or U.S. because they are able to buy privileges in a Thai prison. They also have a much higher chance of escape.

2 hours ago, Evil Penevil said:

With enough money, foreign inmates can buy themselves a relatively comfortable existence in a Thai prison, including visits from pr*stitutes or even excursions beyond the walls. Then one day, after the publicity has faded and the spotlight is off, the prison staff will forget to lock the outer door and the inmate will walk away and cross the border to Cambodia.

Without money, foreigners do indeed rot in Thai prisons. But for inmates with money, it's better to sit off a long sentence in a Thai prison compared to the U.K. or U.S. because they are able to buy privileges in a Thai prison. They also have a much higher chance of escape.

Don't know where you get that information, but assuming it's a reliable source, I suppose we can call it the best justice money can buy!

7 hours ago, BusyB said:

I think it's really funny this guy paid SIX MILLION baht and they simply pocketed it and sent him packing to the UK.

Thought he was the bee's knees but hadn't reckoned with the depravity of the RTP 555

Patel pleaded guilty to all charges, including the movement of 102.5 kilos of Class A drugs, namely cocaine and heroin, with a street value of over £3 million.

https://www.tarianrocu.org.uk/news/organised-crime-fugitive-sentenced/

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On 7/10/2026 at 2:16 PM, ikke1959 said:

I know that Thailand does not accept critics and the looming defamation accusations are always around. Booking and agoda of course know that too and they will filter them out, but if never nothing can be criticized how can you improve things? Only from mistakes, critics and wrongdoings people learn.. And what I write is not defamation or slander in this case

@ikke1959 my man wow is me. You are thinking logically and not Thai LOL

I can understand that they not post but it might be an idea to forward the complaint to the facility so they can make therrepairs or changes BUT AGAIN THIS REQUIRES LOGIC. Wrong country.

On 7/10/2026 at 9:30 AM, Liverpool Lou said:

Where did you see the report that stated that he was being charged with bribing a police officer? Did he bribe the police officer or did a third party?

As posted above: The Bangkokpost reported that the NACC said there are grounds to charge Mr Witthaya under Section 143 of the Criminal Code and the Organic Act on Anti-Corruption.

But folks on here should be familiar with Section 143. It's what a 'reputable' visa agent does every day.

On 7/10/2026 at 10:28 AM, saintdomingo said:

Lou non-scouse he is doing 20 years in the UK.

I know but not for bribing a Thai police officer.

On 7/11/2026 at 1:34 AM, Evil Penevil said:

With enough money, foreign inmates can buy themselves a relatively comfortable existence in a Thai prison, including visits from pr*stitutes or even excursions beyond the walls. Then one day, after the publicity has faded and the spotlight is off, the prison staff will forget to lock the outer door and the inmate will walk away and cross the border to Cambodia.

Without money, foreigners do indeed rot in Thai prisons. But for inmates with money, it's better to sit off a long sentence in a Thai prison compared to the U.K. or U.S. because they are able to buy privileges in a Thai prison. They also have a much higher chance of escape.

Garbage, all of it, apart from one isolated incident a few months ago of a group of Chinese prisoners being allowed access to a Chinese prostitute. It backfired, though, and was not an example of normal practice. Buying of comfort and privileges to the extent that you suggested by foreign prisoners is an urban myth (along with the fish head soup myth).

5 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

apart from one isolated incident a few months ago of a group of Chinese prisoners being allowed access to a Chinese prostitute.

How do you know it was an isolated incident?

6 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Buying of comfort and privileges to the extent that you suggested by foreign prisoners is an urban myth

So, to what extent do you say privileges can be bought?

4 minutes ago, KhunHeineken said:

11 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

apart from one isolated incident a few months ago of a group of Chinese prisoners being allowed access to a Chinese prostitute.

How do you know it was an isolated incident

Personal experience. How many other similar instances have been reported?