Americans among five 'criminals' arrested in Thailand

[webfact]

Americans among five 'criminals' nabbed here
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Immigration police have arrested five foreign men, including a much-wanted American, for crimes they allegedly committed, a police press conference was told yesterday.

Kwame Rasheed Jackson has been wanted by the US Department of State's Diplomatic Security Service for allegedly making false statements in a US passport application, said Pol Maj-General Warawuth Thaweechaiyakarn, a senior immigration officer.

The suspect, also known as Gregory Richard Swarn, applied for a US passport in July 2011 as Swarn, after received one in the name Kwame Rasheed Jackson.

According to the US State Department website, He is a close associate of Erez Arsoni who is also one of DSS Most Wanted.

The officer added that the arrest was made at the request of the US embassy.

Jackson, 35, has previously been arrested twice and was found guilty of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, for which he served over seven years in jail, the website said.

Another American, David Jeremy Gall, was arrested last week.

The 41-year-old was wanted by Colorado Court for allegedly stealing using credit card swipers without authorisation.

Belgian national Patrick Lagrou, 54, was arrested for growing 20,000 marijuana trees in his country, the record and largest number, as well as running an illegal trade worth around EU25 million. He had entered Thailand and worked on a farm in Phang Nga, police said.

'Black dollar' Nigerians

Also arrested were two Nigerian nationals Kerry McArthur and John Hill, both 40, for allegedly luring a Russian millionaire into selling a ship for US$1 million to them.

They allegedly posed as Ghanian cabinet members, and agreed to receive banknotes laced with black paint as in an infamous "black dollars" scheme.

An unnamed Russian told police that he had already paid Bt200,000 to both men for a sum they claimed was needed to smuggle the money out of Ghana.

The Russian told police he began feeling distrust towards the men when they said they needed another US$300,000 for a chemical that would wash away the black paint from the banknotes.

Another immigration officer, Pol Colonel Worrawat Amornwiwat, said police had established surveillance for a Rohingya man identified as Then Win or Har San, suspected as a terrorist at border crossings including the Aranyaprathet checkpoint in Sa Kaew.

The man, 53, was thought to have links with separatists in the Far South, is possibly tied to the Islamic State, which controls large swathes of Iraq and Syria, according to a security source. The source did not elaborate.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Americans-among-five-criminals-nabbed-here-30247553.html


-- The Nation 2014-11-12

[Bluespunk]

'Belgian national Patrick Lagrou, 54, was arrested for growing 20,000 marijuana trees in his country, the record and largest number, as well as running an illegal trade worth around EU25 million. He had entered Thailand and worked on a farm in Phang Nga, police said."

Now then, this farm, where exactly would that be now?

[RobSmith]

Turn left at all the smiling people wandering aimlessly near phang Hga :-)

[whatawonderfulday]

Looks like America is an amasing please if you examine the text. For example it states:

The 41-year-old was wanted by Colorado Court for allegedly stealing using credit card swipers without authorization

One can only assume therefore if you receive authorization you can indeed steal credit card swipers ! now who gives that authorization ?

[ClutchClark]

Looks like America is an amasing please if you examine the text. For example it states:

The 41-year-old was wanted by Colorado Court for allegedly stealing using credit card swipers without authorization

One can only assume therefore if you receive authorization you can indeed steal credit card swipers ! now who gives that authorization ?

This is not a misquote or grammatical error by the news writer, this is actually the description of the violation on the books.

I am pleased to read these Americans have been captured and will now be sent home to answer for their alleged offenses.

And making Thailand a better place in the process.

Edited November 11, 2014 by ClutchClark

[ezzra]

A motley crew of undesirables that you see many times over in this country, haven for criminals

in any imaginable, and that's why they will keep coming to these sure in many years to come...

[BSJ]

I am sure if the police wanted a really big story all they need to do is a broad sweep of Pattaya on any day and they would nab hundreds of miscreants.

[whatawonderfulday]

Looks like America is an amasing please if you examine the text. For example it states:

The 41-year-old was wanted by Colorado Court for allegedly stealing using credit card swipers without authorization

One can only assume therefore if you receive authorization you can indeed steal credit card swipers ! now who gives that authorization ?

This is not a misquote or grammatical error by the news writer, this is actually the description of the violation on the books.

I am pleased to read these Americans have been captured and will now be sent home to answer for their alleged offenses.

And making Thailand a better place in the process.

So it appears you have confirmed that America is an amasing place after all.

Whilst foreign criminals are undesirable they have only been able to stay in Thailand with relative impunity due to Thailand's own criminality and police corruption. But as they say " it takes a thief to catch a thief" so in fact the RTP should be the best in the world for catching them.

[ClutchClark]

Looks like America is an amasing please if you examine the text. For example it states:

The 41-year-old was wanted by Colorado Court for allegedly stealing using credit card swipers without authorization

One can only assume therefore if you receive authorization you can indeed steal credit card swipers ! now who gives that authorization ?

This is not a misquote or grammatical error by the news writer, this is actually the description of the violation on the books.

I am pleased to read these Americans have been captured and will now be sent home to answer for their alleged offenses.

And making Thailand a better place in the process.

So it appears you have confirmed that America is an amasing place after all.

Whilst foreign criminals are undesirable they have only been able to stay in Thailand with relative impunity due to Thailand's own criminality and police corruption. But as they say " it takes a thief to catch a thief" so in fact the RTP should be the best in the world for catching them.

You would have to travel to a pretty remote section of jungle anywhere in the world to find someone who is not aware America is an amazing place.

Cheers

[craigt3365]

Put "America" in a topic title and the trolls come out. A few posts violating forum rules have been removed. Per forum rules:

11) You will not post slurs, degrading or overly negative comments directed towards Thailand, specific locations, Thai institutions such as the judicial or law enforcement system, Thai culture, Thai people or any other group on the basis of race, nationality, religion, gender or sexual orientation.

[thrilled]

So now Thailand is saying Americans don't come to Thailand,LOL.

[ClutchClark]

So now Thailand is saying Americans don't come to Thailand,LOL.

Well it depends on what kind of American you are.

A law-abiding American sees this as a welcome to Thailand symbol.

The criminal element in America sees this as a signal of "...don't come to Thailand".

Cheers

[toooa]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

Looks like America is an amasing please if you examine the text. For example it states:

The 41-year-old was wanted by Colorado Court for allegedly stealing using credit card swipers without authorization

One can only assume therefore if you receive authorization you can indeed steal credit card swipers ! now who gives that authorization ?

This is not a misquote or grammatical error by the news writer, this is actually the description of the violation on the books.

I am pleased to read these Americans have been captured and will now be sent home to answer for their alleged offenses.

And making Thailand a better place in the process.

"making Thailand a better place".... I think you're having a lend of yourself there....

[noitom]

Rohingyas, Americans, Ghanians, Russians, no Thais involved. How does one apply for a passport in one name and just get it in another name? Something must be missing here.

[halloween]

People are still falling for the 'black dollars' scam?

[boomerangutang]

hippie wannbes

Sounds like Steve Jobs and Bill gates, 30 years ago. Note: neither graduated from college or university either. If they were Thai, they wouldn't be allowed to run for public office.

[boomerangutang]

People are still falling for the 'black dollars' scam?

I like purple better. As for dollars, I'll take mine green and dirty white, thanks.

[Jungle Jim]

30 years ago they were not wannabes. not like the ones visiting here now with mommy and daddy paying for everything while their brats are let loose on Khao San Road, Pai and Koh Phi Phi causing trouble. If they only knew what the Thais really thought of them while they play hippie. The foreigner criminals are much easier to spot. Really obvious .

hippie wannbes

Sounds like Steve Jobs and Bill gates, 30 years ago. Note: neither graduated from college or university either. If they were Thai, they wouldn't be allowed to run for public office.

[retarius]

'Kwame Rasheed Jackson has been wanted by the US Department of State's Diplomatic Security Service for allegedly making false statements in a US passport application, said Pol Maj-General Warawuth Thaweechaiyakarn, a senior immigration officer'

Seems an incredibly trivial offense....what's next stealing a lollipop?

[ClutchClark]

'Kwame Rasheed Jackson has been wanted by the US Department of State's Diplomatic Security Service for allegedly making false statements in a US passport application, said Pol Maj-General Warawuth Thaweechaiyakarn, a senior immigration officer'

Seems an incredibly trivial offense....what's next stealing a lollipop?

Trivial? Lollipops?

It is a well-known fact that terrorists attempt to travel on false passports all the time.

Why does a law-abidong citizen need a false passport?

Short answer--they don't.

Long answer--criminals need fake passports to commit crimes and/or escape from authorities.

There are sharp tools in the shed and there are blunt tools in the shed. Don't worry, the blunt tools are important to the world too.

[SteveFong]

are these guys all getting caught at border crossings?

[metisdead]

An inflammatory post has been removed.

[ClutchClark]

Is ThaiVisa closing down?

99.9% of all posts are all of the above.

I wish it would close down.

I am having zero luck quitting this addiction on my own :-(

Edited November 12, 2014 by ClutchClark

[CharlieH]

A post commenting on moderation has been removed

10) Do not discuss moderation publicly in the open forum; this includes individual actions, and specific or general policies and issues. You may send a PM to a moderator to discuss individual actions or email support (at) thaivisa.com to discuss moderation policy.

[Strangebrew]

Wait a second did I read this right a crook was swindled by better crooks?

[cup-O-coffee]

People are still falling for the 'black dollars' scam?

Yes.

[Benmart]

Looks like America is an amasing please if you examine the text. For example it states:

The 41-year-old was wanted by Colorado Court for allegedly stealing using credit card swipers without authorization

One can only assume therefore if you receive authorization you can indeed steal credit card swipers ! now who gives that authorization ?

This is not a misquote or grammatical error by the news writer, this is actually the description of the violation on the books.

I am pleased to read these Americans have been captured and will now be sent home to answer for their alleged offenses.

And making Thailand a better place in the process.

Regardless of nationality, I am pleased when any criminal is arrested and deported. As an American, I am pleased, two-times over in this case.

[Kudel]

'Belgian national Patrick Lagrou, 54, was arrested for growing 20,000 marijuana trees in his country, the record and largest number, as well as running an illegal trade worth around EU25 million. He had entered Thailand and worked on a farm in Phang Nga, police said."

Now then, this farm, where exactly would that be now?

Maybe he can show you when he is back in Thailand in a few days,There was no international arrest warrent issued by the Belgian courts and according the a spokes person on the Belgian news concerning his arrest in Thailand he is free to go

The guys arrested in said article are small time crooks bigger fish at large in Thailand with loads a money to pay of police and officials .

Make Thailand a safe and better place my @rse.

[boomerangutang]

30 years ago they were not wannabes. not like the ones visiting here now with mommy and daddy paying for everything while their brats are let loose on Khao San Road, Pai and Koh Phi Phi causing trouble. If they only knew what the Thais really thought of them while they play hippie. The foreigner criminals are much easier to spot. Really obvious .

hippie wannbes

Sounds like Steve Jobs and Bill gates, 30 years ago. Note: neither graduated from college or university either. If they were Thai, they wouldn't be allowed to run for public office.

It's human nature to hate the things which remind oneself of oneself. Preachers rail against immorality. When the sermon is over, they slip over to the bad side of the tracks, or seduce some 9 yr old boy in the back room. I don't put down the backpackers at Kao San road because I know first hand that the vast majority of them are very decent lovely young folks. The people that spook me, are the politicians, police chiefs, bankers, and advertising execs who take peoples' trust and respond with toxic self-enriching self-aggrandizing sludge.

[Jungle Jim]

The next time you see your Khao San Road buddies ,could you remind them to take a bath.

30 years ago they were not wannabes. not like the ones visiting here now with mommy and daddy paying for everything while their brats are let loose on Khao San Road, Pai and Koh Phi Phi causing trouble. If they only knew what the Thais really thought of them while they play hippie. The foreigner criminals are much easier to spot. Really obvious .

hippie wannbes

Sounds like Steve Jobs and Bill gates, 30 years ago. Note: neither graduated from college or university either. If they were Thai, they wouldn't be allowed to run for public office.

It's human nature to hate the things which remind oneself of oneself. Preachers rail against immorality. When the sermon is over, they slip over to the bad side of the tracks, or seduce some 9 yr old boy in the back room. I don't put down the backpackers at Kao San road because I know first hand that the vast majority of them are very decent lovely young folks. The people that spook me, are the politicians, police chiefs, bankers, and advertising execs who take peoples' trust and respond with toxic self-enriching self-aggrandizing sludge.