Phuket:- Five French nationals of African origin have been arrested in Phuket for allegedly using skimmer devices to steal ATM cards’ identities and stealing from accounts of their victims.

The arrest was announced at a press conference by Deputy Police Commissioner General Pol Gen Wut Liptapanlop at the Phuket Police head office at 10:30 am Tuesday.

The five were identified as Kevin Tahiango Theodore Okito, 29, Mel Duval Poaty, 29, Accel Jonathan Poaty Pambou, 26, Samir Maruo, 29, and Jessy Bianvenu Vincence, 33.

Police seized 13 fake ATM cards, a notebook computer and three USB Flash drives with information of ATM cards they have allegedly stolen with skimmer devices.

Police investigated and staked out at certain ATM machines in Tambon Kamala in Krathu district and Tambon Chalong in Muang district after they were alerted by the Siam Commercial Bank that some black foreigners have been using fake ATM cards to withdraw money from SCB ATM machines in the two tambon since February 22.

At about 1:10am on February 28, police spotted Okito and Poaty turning up at the SCB ATM booth in front of the Freshmart shop in Tambon Kamala.

While Okito was withdrawing the money, police made the arrest. Initially, the two tried to escape by running into a soi but police managed to arrest them.

Following the two’s interrogations, police raided a house in Tambon Kamala and another in Tambon Chalong and arrested the three other suspects.

Wut said during the raids, some black French nationals managed to flee. The Phuket immigration police have been alerted to watch out for the suspects.

Wut said Okito was wanted by an arrest warrant issued in France.

Shouldn't be too hard to spot these guys then?

Shouldn't be too hard to spot these guys then?

During the day, yes...but not at night.

french...some black foreigners ...

there is no free lunch in thailand?

,,, free lunch in thai prison...

Shouldn't be too hard to spot these guys then?

During the day, yes...but not at night.

Easy, just go around telling French - African jokes.