Bangkok: The hunt for the alien registration fraud ring has concluded, marking the end of the "era of shadow labor." The Director-General of the Department of Provincial Administration has ordered the suspension of those involved pending a serious disciplinary investigation.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Narucha Khosasilvilai, Director-General of the Department of Provincial Administration (DOPA), joined by Pol. Gen. Samran Nualma, Deputy Commissioner-General of the Royal Thai Police, Pol. Lt. Col. Siripong Sritula, Deputy Secretary-General of the Anti-Corruption Commission, Mr. Wittaya Neetitham, Deputy Secretary-General of the Anti-Money Laundering Office, and Mr. Jumphot Wannachatsiri, Governor of Surat Thani Province, held a press conference to announce DOPA NICE's "Ending the Shadows" operation. This operation targets corrupt government officials who illegally issued stateless identification cards to Myanmar migrant workers.
The operation gained momentum following the arrest of a Myanmar migrant worker trafficking broker by Immigration Police officers in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province on September 24, 2024. The broker was charged with aiding foreign nationals to evade arrest and for assault and unlawful detention of Myanmar people. It was revealed that the broker possessed two identification cards, which were sent to DOPA for verification.
The investigation by DOPA NICE revealed that between 2021 and 2022, officials in Don Sak District, Surat Thani Province, had issued identification cards to 240 individuals without registered status. Coordination with the Royal Thai Police confirmed that 12 Myanmar nationals, possessing passports, had matched facial images and fingerprints in the database.
Consequently, DOPA officers filed a complaint at Don Sak Police Station, resulting in 17 arrest warrants issued for government officials, brokers, landlords, and Myanmar migrant workers.
DOPA will cancel and remove all 12 entries, suspend all registration activities for 240 individuals, and suspend the officials involved. The Anti-Money Laundering Office will trace and seize assets to dismantle the criminal network.
Mr. Narucha affirmed that DOPA will continue investigating and any government officials found complicit will face disciplinary and criminal action. DOPA is committed to preventing any misuse of registration procedures to protect citizens and ensure justice is served.