Investigations estimate that at least 80 immigration police officials, three of whom are generals, have aided around 5,000 members of Chinese triad criminal groups in remaining illegally in Thailand.
On Monday, Deputy National Police Chief General Surachet Hakparn told reporters that the suspects had been summoned to face allegations of malfeasance and bribery.
After former massage parlor tycoon and politician Chuwit Kamolvisit submitted information on alleged Chinese triads operating in Thailand, authorities initiated a nationwide probe in November.
An arrest warrant was promptly issued for accused triad kingpin Chaiyanat “Tuhao” Kornchayanant, a Chinese national who obtained Thai citizenship by marrying a senior Thai police officer. Surachet, the investigation’s lead investigator, stated that officials were found to have issued student and other visas to approximately 3,000 Chinese nationals in the Northeast and more than 1,000 in the North between 2020 and 2021, allowing them to remain in Thailand and engage in illegal operations.
Among the 5,000 beneficiaries is the proprietor of Club One, a popular Pattaya entertainment establishment suspected of being a triad base of operations.
“We need to pick out bad officials from our army of nearly 20,000 immigration officers,” Surachet explained.
“Investigators are also working with the National Anti-Corruption Commission to track down the financial records of these alleged officials.”
So far, the authorities have seized 5.3 billion baht in assets from Chaiyanat, including real estate, buses, bank savings, enterprises, and an aircraft. This Monday, the Justice Ministry announced the seizure of another 3 billion baht in assets owned by Chaiyanat and his network.
