Over 20 big foreign criminal gangs here

[Jim walker]

If they have all this information and nationality knowledge why are these criminals still here and not in prison or on a plane home, or are some Thais looking at more lovely money money it can even buy freedom in Thailand

[mdmayes]

"Quality Tourist" as TAT would say.

[Dumu Ali]

Indians have massive nationwide cruel loanshark gang that pay someone somewhere to keep operating

Chinese own most of the Nation's massage parlours, Karaoke and brothels not to mention game machines and casinos

That is 10 million useless foreigners that bought Thai ID under the table to kick out - but where to is a problem so I guess gotta hunt the minorities

[jlwilliamsjr18]

Oh come on, we all know why, cops are paid to look the other way. Corruption paves many roads. And...it's not Thailand is void of mafias, taxi, trash,beggar, money lender and many many more, mafias, live and thrive in Thailand. Thailand is a magnet for these groups. Enough said.

[jlwilliamsjr18]

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.

Hmmmmm, sometimes you can state matters that make sense.

Agreed, and then we now have too many chiefs, and they're all out to kiss up to the supreme commander, to cover up their own nasty doings.

[affen02]

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

[bander]

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If they have all this information and nationality knowledge why are these criminals still here and not in prison or on a plane home, or are some Thais looking at more lovely money money it can even buy freedom in Thailand

The same hands who collect bribes from Thai criminals also collect from the 20 big foreign criminal gangs

[affen02]

The number of foreign prisoners in Thai jails set to 200 pluss must be wrong, i bet u nigerians alone would be that number. I read in the papers 4-5 yrs ago that the thai government had rented a big jet to carry back pardoned and relrased afrikans back to their respective countries. Some of them had served from ten to 25 yrs. A hole bloody jet. And there was no drugcases and murdercases allowed on this flight. Since then about weekly one can read about africans from different countries beeing arrested for drugs, so come on, 200.

[A Skeptic]

It's never a Thai is it? Burmese, Russian, European - you name it - but never a Thai. They are liars,cheats, rip-off merchants, thieves and murderers (sorry to restrict my remarks only to the lawyers), but the fact is, a lawless country attracts the lawless.

[KamalaRider]

Hmmm.

ATM skimming and online credit card theft.

Does that qualify them as Digital Nomads?

(Sorry, couldn't resist)

Possibly Digital Mobile Nomads, me thinks.

[darrendsd]

Over 20 big foreign criminal gangs here

How big are they exactly on a scale from 1 to 10?

Do I smell racism here?

What about big Thai criminal gangs, jet ski and tuk-tuk mafia have been operating for decades without any interference from the authority's, what is Thailand Institute of Justice doing in this matter?

So reporting that there are foreign criminals in Thailand is racism? This forum gets better and better

As for the other points you make maybe you should read the news more

[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.

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

What has that to do with two Hells Angles, in CM?

[chezy86]

This could be any country in the world.International gangs are what it says "international" they have no respect for borders and go where there is easy money to be had so why should Thailand be any different?

[fstarbkk]

The main attraction of Thailand as a base of operations for criminal gangs is not the ease of entry, but the country's reputation of corruption in the ranks of the authorities. This ensures low risk of exposure and a low cost of "fixing" any legal problems. In other words, running a criminal enterprise here is good business.

It's just as easy to enter Singapore, Malaysia or Hong Kong. But the efficient and strict enforcement of laws in these places, make for a much less attractive "business climate" for criminals.

[whgthai]

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

Fully agree! The trouble is that it appears to me that many Thais think that this is a problem that only happens in Thailand. I wish the authorities would clamp down more on those criminal elements that we do not daily have to read stories about "farang criminals", I am getting a bit sick of it. The vast majority of us is squeeky clean and honest. And 200odd foreigners in jail does not seen to be a huge worry...

[tomyummer]

Boy, if this is the only way to get Thailand to improve and increase bank security and technology as well as immigration, go for it.

[slygeeza]

Im not sure why the talk of gangs, most of this stuff can be done by individuals, its not difficult and its a worldwide phenomenon

[ebean001]

and tell me why you would choose any place in Thailand other than Chiang Mai. Peaceful with all the ++++s.

[a99az]

Simple close Thailand off to all non Thais and you can enjoy life as it was in Albania during the 60s. Or get a real police force who can do the job of enforcing the law without taking backhanders to look the other way.

[thhMan]

Perhaps if living and working in Thailand wasnt such of a hardship, the crooks wouldnt need to do what they do.

My friend who had a WP, visa and all those things, suddenly lost his job and had a Thai family. His only option was to do illegal stuff to make an income...

I know it wasnt the best choice he made, but Thailand doesnt allow for options...

[shrimpythailand]

change your ATM pin numbers on a regular basis - like once a month -and put your other hand over the hand hitting the 4 pin numbers - look for a fake plastic card slot and a fake key pad.. they can only use the info with your PIN number.... i live out in the burbs in northern bangkok and just had my ATM card hacked but only 1000 bt withdrawn at 2 am friday night... have canceled the card and moved the money to another account and will get to the bank monday to see if they can tell me where the money was taken out ...and find out the story... only 1000 bt ok so lucky but could have been 100,000... am not using downtown ATM's and only use a few out here to and from work out in the burbs so now I am suspicious of the 2 or 3 atm's I do use...not that many but... wow... will wait and see what kaisakorn bank says but pretty scary for a non toruist and NOT using any tourist spot ATM's... yikes....

[kinmaew]

I am no tech expert but for years when I pass ATM's especially at BTS and subways, I see a lot of loose wires and even think I saw a modem. Shouldn't all this stuff be covered up

[monk213]

It's never a Thai is it? Burmese, Russian, European - you name it - but never a Thai. They are liars,cheats, rip-off merchants, thieves and murderers (sorry to restrict my remarks only to the lawyers), but the fact is, a lawless country attracts the lawless.

So what please tell me, do you only read certain headlines or does your computer somehow filter out every criminal news story involving a Thai that happens to be half a dozen daily?

[freedom4life]

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.

I agree. There is where immigration should be targeting specifics! In addition, race can be generalized as well...they know what races are more prone to violence and crime in Thailand. Sorry, but a certain amount of discrimination is justified in these matters. Immigration has to figure-out a system that doesn't generalize across the board. There are a lot of decent people/farang in Thailand and they should not be affected in any manner whatsoever..

[casindonet]

I smell a crackdown soon.....competitions are not welcomed in LOS!!!

[sydneyjed]

This is a world wide problem not just here in Thailand...gangs are operating in every 1st world country and at every opportunity using the latest technology to keep one step ahead of the latest banking practices!Make no mistake about it this is not going to go away any time soon..it is frightening what these organised gangs have at their disposal in the way of IT expertise and knowhow.Saw a demonstration of how easy it is for someone to sit on the next table to a unsuspecting victim in a coffee shop innocently using their laptop and then systematically download all that 'victims' personal details on their mobile phone in a millisecond.Be afraid..be very afraid and aware folks!!

[Chris Lawrence]

It feels like April?

[herb59]

Why so geared towards the white skinned farangs?

maybe the asians do it smarter....

[kieran2698]

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

They've been here longer than the rest. Triads have been in Thailand since the 1700's and today they bring a lot of the counterfeit stuff in from China but they have not really been a powerful organisation since the 1950's and are now more into petty crime and some brutal violence. Ah Kong ran the golden triangle from the 70's through to the 90's but they are finished now. Yakuza have been in Bangkok since the 80's, in the past they have been involved in Yaba, extortion, stolen cars and today they are involved in the sex industry.

[Strangebrew]

Fact drugs go through customs, after bribe is paid sold around Bangkok like candy. You got ivory trade endangered animal trade bear gall bladders, tiger skins, and peckers All for Chinese market. Russians and Nigerans useing mules to rat hole drugs through immigration. Police in on most of the action Russian boiler rooms all over Bangkok. You got one Farang who can be seen driveing around on a Harley got police in back pocket He is into credit card fraud, skimming counterfeiting. Protection racket. I'm not blind you hear people speak openly as if it is no big deal about there crimes. Like it is badge of honor. Police won't do a thing because to much money changing hands but if the cops found out they only get a slight fraction of the ill gotten gains heads would roll. I figure for every baht they give the police they make 1000 times more.