Nigerian suspect arrested in Nonthaburi with 7 bank cards and 42 mobile phones
Police arrested a Nigerian man suspected of involvement in a romance scam network in Nonthaburi after discovering dozens of mobile phones and bank cards.
Rattanathibet Police Station superintendent Prut Jamroonsarn announced details of the arrest at about 6pm yesterday, May 20. The suspect was identified as 24 year old Nigerian national Sinedu Heophilus Acege.
Prut said officers had been conducting ongoing inspections and patrols targeting illegal activities involving foreign nationals in the province.
Police encountered Acege while he was carrying out a financial transaction at an ATM on Nonthaburi 1 Road in Bang Krasor subdistrict. Officers said the suspect displayed suspicious behaviour during the transaction, prompting them to request identification documents and conduct a search.
Investigators found seven mobile phones and seven ATM cards in Acege’s possession, leading police to expand the investigation to his condominium in Sai Ma subdistrict.
During the search of the room, officers discovered another 35 mobile phones and took Acege to the police station for questioning.
Acege reportedly told investigators the phones and ATM cards belonged to his 34 year old Thai girlfriend, Apaporn. He claimed she operated a mobile phone business in the Ramkhamhaeng area of Bangkok and said the cash withdrawn from the ATM came from her business income, not a scam operation.
Police later checked Apaporn’s criminal record and found she was wanted in 23 online fraud and romance scam cases reported in several provinces, including Nonthaburi, Phetchabun, Lamphun, Nakhon Pathom, Mukdahan and Phuket.
Investigators suspect Acege may have been involved in the operation, although officers said additional evidence would be required before filing further charges related to the alleged scam activities.
Initially, police charged Acege under Section 269 of the Criminal Law for possessing or using another person’s electronic payment card. The offence carries penalties of up to three years in prison, a fine of up to 60,000 baht, or both.
Police have not yet provided further details about the investigation into Acege or efforts to locate Apaporn.
In a similar case reported in April, police in Pattaya arrested a Thai woman and three Nigerian nationals accused of managing mule bank accounts linked to a romance scam network.
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