Thai police arrest group smuggling mule accounts to Cambodia
Police from the Technology Crime Suppression Division (TCSD) yesterday arrested a group involved in smuggling mule accounts across the Thai-Cambodian border. The arrests took place near the border in Khlong Yai subdistrict, Pong Nam Ron district, Chanthaburi province.
The operation, led by Major General Athip Phongsiwapai, followed an investigation revealing a network recruiting individuals via social media to open bank accounts for illegal activities.
Participants were offered 3,000 to 5,000 baht per account and instructed to travel to Rong Kluea Market in Sa Kaeo province for facial verification.
Undercover agents posing as mule account operators discovered that suspects offered 20,000 baht for opening five accounts.
One suspect, 38 year old Santi Phap, was observed driving to collect the mule accounts at the designated meeting point.
Police followed Santi as he took the recruits to open bank accounts in Chon Buri province, compensating them 1,000 baht each.
Once completed, Santi transported the mule operators to meet 31 year old Noppadol Nophadol at a location in Khlong Yai. Noppadol then facilitated the handover to 46 year old Rungrueng and 39 year old Chamnan who intended to smuggle the mule accounts across the border.
The police intervened while Rungrueng and Chamnan were preparing to cross the border, approximately 2.5 kilometres from the Thai-Cambodian border.
During questioning, Noppadol admitted to orchestrating the operation and liaising with Thai mule account brokers in Cambodia via the LINE application. He stated that this cross-border activity had been conducted multiple times, earning 3,000 baht per transaction.
Santi confessed to transporting mule accounts from Bangkok to open accounts in Chon Buri before handing them over to Noppadol in Pong Nam Ron district, Chanthaburi province. He claimed this was his first involvement, for which he was paid 5,000 baht.
Rungrueng and Chamnan acknowledged their roles in escorting mule accounts across the border at night, evading police by walking approximately 3 kilometres to the riverbank, where Cambodian contacts awaited. They had conducted this activity three times, receiving 1,000 baht for each crossing, reported KhaoSod.
All suspects, along with evidence, were handed over to investigators from the TCSD for further legal proceedings.
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