Sri Nakarin Dam Park cult arrested for travel document scam

Thai police swooped to arrest several members of a peculiar long-haired Karen people cult who set up camp in Sri Nakarin Dam National Park, falsely claiming that they could issue travel documents usable in 196 countries worldwide.

The operation was led by Veera Khunchairak, Deputy Director-General of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, alongside military and border patrol police units. They targeted the encroached area located in Moo 3, Na Suan subdistrict, Si Sawat district, Kanchanaburi province.

Veera stated that officials discovered a group of stateless individuals illegally occupying the national park territory, living in tents under the trees. The group also possessed firearms for self-protection, exhibited aggressive behaviour, and increasingly attracted more members to the park.

During this operation, officials found 30 Karen people in the area, including 11 men, 10 women, and nine children. Police seized five firearms, bulletproof vests, knives, swords, chainsaws, construction tools, communication radios, and mobile phones.

This group is associated with a bizarre cult that tricks people into joining, potentially linked to the cult leader’s rituals. Locals see the group as a significant problem, instilling fear and posing a threat to community safety.

The detainees were initially taken to Si Sawat Police Station and charged under the National Park Act of 2019 for land possession, construction, deforestation, and unauthorised entry into the country as foreigners, according to KhaoSod.

A reporter also revealed that a Karen YouTuber exposed how the arrested leader acted similarly to someone who deceived Karen people into paying 5,000 baht (US$150) each for a fraudulent travel document. This document was falsely advertised as granting access to 196 countries worldwide, causing many to fall victim to the scam.

In related news, Thai Tourist Police arrested a woman accused of opening a bank account for a fraudulent resort page scam in exchange for 500 baht. The incident involved victims losing money after booking a luxury resort in Khao Yai.