Two Nigerian men and Thai woman arrested for romance scam in Thailand

Two Nigerian men and a Thai woman were arrested in Thalang district of Phuket in Thailand for alleged involvement in a romance scam.

The 32-year-old Thai woman, Kanyathanat Thotsatham and the Nigerian nationals, whose names were not disclosed by police, were arrested during a raid on a house in the Phatcharee Thalang housing estate on Thursday night, February 8, 2024. 

The officers also seized 50 sachets of cocaine and a digital balance from the residence.

Ms Kanyathanat was wanted on an arrest warrant issued by Samut Prakan Provincial Court for public fraud and inputting false information into a computer system. 

The two men were found to have overstayed their visas for 1,401 days and 1,728 days, respectively.

Pol Lt Col Pitthaya Thepmuang, inspector of the Tourist Police Sub-Division 3, said the arresting team discovered that some foreign nationals from South Africa were part of a romance scam gang that operated by creating fake Facebook accounts to dupe people in Thailand into transferring money.

Police then identified Kanyathanat as working for the gang. She was tasked with withdrawing and transferring money to the bank accounts of a Nigerian gang leader living abroad, according to o Pol Lt Col Pitthaya.

Many people fell victim to the scam gang.

Police said during questioning, the Nigerian men confessed to having been involved in a romance scam gang, and admitted to selling cocaine to foreign tourists in Phuket to earn extra income.

All suspects were handed over to police at Thalang station for legal action.