Three Nigerian nationals alongside a Thai woman accomplice have been arrested by police in Thailand for allegedly running a scam and money laundering network.
The arrest was made during a nationwide crackdown on romance crimes in the country.
Reports noted that the suspects identified as Miracle Qluebube Duruawuzie, John Bosco Chukwukadibia, Chibueze Solomon Ozoma, and the Thai woman simply named as Patcharin, were apprehended at a hotel in Pattaya on Tuesday.
Authorities stated that their arrest followed an extensive inter-organisation investigation by the country’s Tourist Police and Region 2 investigators.
According to The Street Journal, police alleged that the suspects were part of a wider international fraud network that specialised in targeting victims across Thailand and abroad through online romance scams.
The suspects reportedly deployed persuasion to pressure their victims to send money into different Thai bank accounts controlled by Ms Patcharin before being immediately re-routed through intermediaries to senior figures overseas, including Nigeria.
Crime Asia reported that police seized 12 mobile phones and 12 bank cheque books during the raid, which officials said highlighted the group’s high sophistication network.
Reports also said Ms Patcharin admitted to working as mule for her Nigerian associates, confessing that she provided account numbers for them and receiving 2,000 baht per account as well as a 10 per cent commission for daily ATM withdrawals.
The suspects are currently face multiple charges under Thailand’s Technology Crime Prevention and Suppression Act, including facilitating the use of bank accounts for criminal activity and participating in an organised crime network.
Furthermore, The Street Journal said that police stated that investigations were still progressing to identify more suspects and uncover the group’s financial trails.
The arrest of Messrs Duruawuzie, Chukwukadibia and Ozoma came just over a week after a 47-year-old Nigerian man identified only as Patrick was arrested in Thailand over allegations of running a cocaine smuggling network.
Officials claimed Mr Patrick was busted following intense intelligence about his drug business for over 17 years, noting that the operation led to the seizure of 0.87 gram of cocaine estimated to worth $74,800 as well as hidden cash of 2.4 million baht.
The latest arrest sparked fresh reactions on social media regarding the frequency at which some Nigerians are regularly involved in criminal offences abroad.
“It’s so sad and embarrassing in fact why only or mostly any crime that has to do with Africa will be committed by Nigerians?,” an Instagram user @miamigemsandgallery commented.
@mousebillson warned people against letting Nigerians in their countries, stating, “You let Nigerians into your country you are in for trouble as this nation is not good always trying to scam and rob and trade in drugs terrible people very dishonest fuck them.”
“No other Africans cause trouble everywhere they go in the world like Nigerians. They scam, they sell drugs, and they’re fake pastors. I’m not even making this up… it’s all over the internet & news pages in Asia & other continents. Watch… they will come here, and defend their nonsense,” @sthera_80 stated.
Meanwhile, another commenter, @officialking.carlos argued that the wider Nigerian population was being unfairly targeted based on the dubious acts of some, arguing that there were news of citizens from other countries committing crimes, but not gaining traction.
“Three Nigerians and the whole world is against Nigeria, go to their page and see the 20 Chinese arrested for romance scams. None of you are there to comment on it, the hate on Nigeria is too much,” he stated.
Recall that a week ago, the Peoples Gazette reported that a Nigerian based in Thailand identified only as Patrick was nabbed in the Asian country over alleged years-long cocaine smuggling operations.
