Over 20 big foreign criminal gangs here

[Lite Beer]

TRANSNATIONAL GANGSTERS
Over 20 big foreign criminal gangs here
Piyanut Tamnukasetchai
The Sunday Nation

BANGKOK: -- 'Lack of ability to counter groups involved in ID fraud, hacking and thefts'

More than 20 major transnational gangs are plaguing Thailand - including Russian and Romanian credit card skimming gangs and Latin American thieves and bank robbers, a new study by the Thailand Institute of Justice has revealed.

Acting TIJ deputy director Natee Jitsawang detailed the public organisation's research on foreign criminal gangs in Thailand at a press conference yesterday. Natee said Thailand allowed easy entry into country to accommodate foreigners. As a result, transnational gangs continuously committed crimes in the Kingdom.

He said these criminals continued to develop and adapt their crime techniques while law-enforcement personnel were reshuffled regularly, as a result they could not keep pace with the criminals effectively. There were 266 foreigners from 101 countries in Thai prisons, he said, adding that the study discovered that 22 gangs were involved in identity fraud and thefts.

They included Russian gangs with expertise in ATM and credit card forging, skimming and selling overseas bank customers' information to obtain cash withdrawals in Thailand. The gangs used modern technology that could skim the card information in 30 seconds and download it onto a computer so the card could be forged.

Fake cards were then used to withdraw cash from ATM machines at night to avoid police detection. Even when they were caught, they managed to destroy evidence quickly. The study found that a Romanian gang was also skilled in card skimming and had extensive operations in Thailand.

Natee said the gang imported an electronic card forgery machine from Spain to southern Thailand via post and then produced fake cards to buy goods at shopping malls and jewellery shops or withdraw cash.

He said the gang installed card skimming devices onto ATM machines at various tourist attractions, especially Bangkok's Sukhumvit area.

German gangs stole personal bank details via the Internet by releasing viruses to hack information about bank account logins and passwords while the target accessed their online accounts. The stolen money was then wired to a bank account overseas.

Natee said French and English gangs used cards containing stolen information from bank customers in France and Scandinavia to withdraw cash via ATM machines in Thailand, especially Phuket. These gangs installed small cameras or mobile card skimmer devices to steal information.

There were four Latin American gangs - Colombians, Mexicans, Guatemalans and Peruvians - that commit crimes in Thailand, mostly thefts and robberies.

The Colombians scouted rich housing estates to break in and steal valuables. Some of them also cracked bank safe boxes. Natee said the Mexicans, Guatemalans and Peruvians focused on car theft and stealing from houses, hotels and jewellery fairs.

On Tuesday, the TIJ will stage a seminar on the new faces of crime that will come to the region following the full implementation of the Asean Economic Community next year.

Natee hopes that by doing so Thailand and the other Asean countries can cooperate in tackling the problem.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Over-20-big-foreign-criminal-gangs-here-30243229.html

-- The Nation 2014-09-14

[Somtamnication]

Let's do a study on Thai criminal gangs and you can easily add 2 zeroes to that number. But, to keep the peace, lets do it the Argentinian way: blame the foreigners!

[PaullyW]

20 big foreign gangs and one massive Thai homegrown one: RTP

[sscsamui]

The authorities should pay a visit to Koh Samui if they truly want to get the foreign gangs out of Thailand. Here there are British and Russian Gangs and some Danish as well. Mostly into Drugs and extortion, Money laundering going on here as well.. and hiding out from the law... The Authorities have turned a blind eye on Koh Samui and Lots of the criminals are hanging and hiding out here...

Wake Up DSI and Army....

[PomRakBKK]

Yeah what about the motorbike gangs like the Outlaws in Bangkok? They dont count?

Edited September 13, 2014 by PomRakBKK

[Fiddlesticks]

What this article failed to mention is another element that makes Thailand so appealing to gangs/crooks is the fact that it it only takes a few baht to have the authorities turn a blind eye to their illegal enterprises.

[impulse]

Hmmm.

ATM skimming and online credit card theft.

Does that qualify them as Digital Nomads?

(Sorry, couldn't resist)

[Bluespunk]

"Natee said Thailand allowed easy entry into country to accommodate foreigners. "

Really? That's why it's done? Nothing at all to do with getting hold of all that tourist money then? It's just done to accommodate those wicked foreigners.

How sweet.

[JeremyBowskill]

Not sure its "re shuffling" that makes them ineffective.......

Edited September 13, 2014 by JeremyBowskill

[NongKhaiKid]

What this article failed to mention is another element that makes Thailand so appealing to gangs/crooks is the fact that it it only takes a few baht to have the authorities turn a blind eye to their illegal enterprises.

A few years back I met a foreigner who owned a business on Samui and who was desperately trying to sell up and get away from the island.

Like so many places tourists only saw the attractions and didn't get to see the darker side. I hadn't been to Samui for well over a decade so couldn't relate to many of the places he mentioned.

He claimed the place had changed so much from when he first went there and doing business had become more difficult and dangerous as the local mafia controlled everything and did as they wanted with total impunity since the BIB were heavily involved even if it just meant ignoring legitimate complaints and complaining was definitely hazardous to your health.

[Prbkk]

Meanwhile, Immigration initiates a "crackdown" affecting mostly harmless, honest, lawful foreigners and creates a climate of uncertainty and confusion. The foreign criminal ratbags continue to operate with impunity, unaffected by border runs, work permits, etc.

[thesetat2013]

I really like how they blame these gangs on their easy entry into thailand. If they even bothered to look the USA and Aus and UK have the same problems in their countries and in greater numbers. Just wait till the triads and yakuza get here.

Sent from my GT-S5310 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[NongKhaiKid]

Meanwhile, Immigration initiates a "crackdown" affecting mostly harmless, honest, lawful foreigners and creates a climate of uncertainty and confusion. The foreign criminal ratbags continue to operate with impunity, unaffected by border runs, work permits, etc.

Overstayers, teachers working illegally etc are easy to deal with and help boost statistics so things look good. They are also unlikely to have the cash to buy their way out of trouble.

Those involved in organised crime will have money and bought connections so it's too much trouble and not profitable to go after them

[SoFarAndNear]

The Colombians scouted rich housing estates to break in and steal valuables. Some of them also cracked bank safe boxes. Natee said the Mexicans, Guatemalans and Peruvians focused on car theft and stealing from houses, hotels and jewellery fairs.

To they really talked about the one case two years ago where they arrested a three Colombians. big crime gang..

If you compare 266 foreigners in prisons with how many thai are in foreign prisons

[clockman]

The thing that should be asked, is why? If the whole of society. Was not corrupt. They would not be here.

[BirdsandBooze]

Why should Thailand be any different? Welcome to the rest of the World.

[ezzra]

Thailand always have been, still is, and will be, a haven/paradise for criminals, where else can you live

and operate with impunity, bribe the locals, be it government, police or just anybody, with small

amount of money? live in obscurity with fake credentials, or better yet, marry a local to act as a front

to your dirty deeds? be able to transfer and receive large amounts of money with minimal risk?

only in the land of smiles.... and I know, if I was a criminal, I'd be setting my home here too...

[kingalfred]

The thing that should be asked, is why? If the whole of society. Was not corrupt. They would not be here.

exactly . Thailand needs tougher visa regs on many more countries and the elimination of corruption to prevent them being circumvented. Haha. I know thats impossible

[daveAustin]

"Natee said Thailand allowed easy entry into country to accommodate foreigners. "

Really? That's why it's done? Nothing at all to do with getting hold of all that tourist money then? It's just done to accommodate those wicked foreigners.

How sweet.

Wish I could Like this twice. Indeed, they make it sound as if they're doing the foreigner a favour. You make it easy, Mr Natee and Thailand, because of all that juicy coin,all the while not mentioning the multitude of visitors are law abiding people. Yes, they ARE scum, but STOP BLAMING FOREIGNERS!!!!! Sort your own people out!!! Am so sick and tired of this childish mindset.

[moe666]

The thing that should be asked, is why? If the whole of society. Was not corrupt. They would not be here.

They are here because of lots of cash walking around in the form of tourist, as many like to say here follow the money.

[CMNightRider]

Yeah what about the motorbike gangs like the Outlaws in Bangkok? They dont count?

I saw two Hells Angles, riding in Chiang Mai, yesterday. Thailand is basically an easy country for foreign criminals to conduct business. The Thai police have never been accused of being crime fighters.

[cloudhopper]

"There were 266 foreigners from 101 countries in Thai prisons, he said"

Another factually challenged Thai government official. All dutifully scooped up and regurgitated by the useful idiot journalists without question.

Edited September 14, 2014 by cloudhopper

[phil2]

The authorities should pay a visit to Koh Samui if they truly want to get the foreign gangs out of Thailand. Here there are British and Russian Gangs and some Danish as well. Mostly into Drugs and extortion, Money laundering going on here as well.. and hiding out from the law... The Authorities have turned a blind eye on Koh Samui and Lots of the criminals are hanging and hiding out here...

Wake Up DSI and Army....

I thought the Nigerians were supposed to be the only ones dealing drugs in Thailand. They're probably Nigerians with bleached, or painted skins.

[bendywire]

Well the way I read it was simple. There are 20 known gangs in Thailand which are run by foreigners. I don't have any issue as a foreigner regarding what has been said. He didn't say ALL foreign visitors or even those that are working or retired here. He stated a fact based on what they know. I would have thought it would be easier to look at that rather than jumping on the race card like most of these posts have.

[Upset]

What about the Singaporean Chinese running illegal football, online gambling and also women trafficking rings here, the Malaysain Chinese Groups involved in credit card fraud and atm fraud, the taiwanese and main chinese involved in call centre scams, the koreans and japanese involved in money laundering scams and also women trafficking and porn production, etc. Why so geared towards the white skinned farangs??? Xenophobic pigs! Waht about Thai criminal gangs starting from corrupted government officials, corrupt police, corrupt justice officials, etc etc etc.

All you stupid farangs out there...get up and start doing something to protect your dignity.

[bangkokheat]

Yeah what about the motorbike gangs like the Outlaws in Bangkok? They dont count?

I saw two Hells Angles, riding in Chiang Mai, yesterday. Thailand is basically an easy country for foreign criminals to conduct business. The Thai police have never been accused of being crime fighters.

yeh, well i seen 2 old ladies pushing prams, looked suspicious, i think they are criminals

[trainman34014]

Re-shuffling the Police changes nothing when proper 'crime fighting' is ineffective to begin with. The Police are running and involved in so many rackets and scams themselves there is no time for tackling serious crime committed by other people. When Police get caught breaking the law they either get moved to other Province's and other quiet backwaters or spend so much time on bail that by the time they are tried the seriousness of the crime has been conveniently forgotten. The Police force here is no more than an armed Mafia and are only good for collecting instant fines and parading small fry petty thieves on the daily Police Comedy TV shows.

[bendywire]

What about the Singaporean Chinese running illegal football, online gambling and also women trafficking rings here, the Malaysain Chinese Groups involved in credit card fraud and atm fraud, the taiwanese and main chinese involved in call centre scams, the koreans and japanese involved in money laundering scams and also women trafficking and porn production, etc. Why so geared towards the white skinned farangs??? Xenophobic pigs! Waht about Thai criminal gangs starting from corrupted government officials, corrupt police, corrupt justice officials, etc etc etc.

All you stupid farangs out there...get up and start doing something to protect your dignity.

Are you sure that you're not being xenophobic here.

[monk213]

Wouldn't be surprised if La Eme was operating here by now

[kingalfred]

What about the Singaporean Chinese running illegal football, online gambling and also women trafficking rings here, the Malaysain Chinese Groups involved in credit card fraud and atm fraud, the taiwanese and main chinese involved in call centre scams, the koreans and japanese involved in money laundering scams and also women trafficking and porn production, etc. Why so geared towards the white skinned farangs??? Xenophobic pigs! Waht about Thai criminal gangs starting from corrupted government officials, corrupt police, corrupt justice officials, etc etc etc.

All you stupid farangs out there...get up and start doing something to protect your dignity.

Are you sure that you're not being xenophobic here.

but he's right . Thai mafia criminality is bigger than any falangs.