Koh Samui registration fraud gang busted

Matichon•Society•43m ago

Reader Briefing

Authorities arrested 12 individuals, including local officials, for fraudulent registration of 'zero-number cards' in Koh Samui.

•DOPA N.I.C.E. and police arrested 12 suspects involved in a registration fraud scheme in Koh Samui, Surat Thani.
•The suspects include a former permanent secretary of Koh Samui City Municipality and a registration officer.
•The scheme involved Rohingya nationals with valid passports pretending to have no documents to obtain zero-number cards.
•The operation was an expansion of a previous arrest of a similar group in Don Sak, Surat Thani.

•DOPA N.I.C.E., led by Thanawat Intharasuwan, coordinated with Surat Thani Provincial Police and Koh Samui officials to execute 13 arrest warrants on September 16.
•12 suspects surrendered or were arrested, consisting of 2 state officials, 4 Thai supporters, and 7 Myanmar nationals.
•A former permanent secretary of Koh Samui City Municipality surrendered on September 17, 2026.
•The network brought Rohingya nationals with valid passports to pretend they lacked documents to apply for registration at Koh Samui City Municipality and obtain pink cards at Koh Samui District Office.
•Zero-number cards (pink cards) provide basic rights for non-Thai nationals, such as hospital access and temporary residence, but do not grant voting rights or automatic Thai citizenship.
•Five suspects were granted bail, including the registration officer (70,000 baht) and four Thai supporters (50,000 baht each), while seven Myanmar nationals were denied bail.
•The Department of Provincial Administration warned all involved parties to stop these illegal activities due to the Ministry of Interior's strict anti-corruption policy.

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Department of Provincial Administration's Registration Security Center (DOPA N.I.C.E.)(ศูนย์ต่อต้านความมั่นคงทางทะเบียน กรมการปกครอง (DOPA N.I.C.E.))

The special operations unit that led the crackdown on the registration fraud gang.

Surat Thani Provincial Police(ตำรวจภูธรจังหวัดสุราษฎร์ธานี)

The police force that coordinated with DOPA N.I.C.E. in the operation.

Koh Samui Police Station(สภ.เกาะสมุย)

The police station where several suspects surrendered and were processed.

Bo Phut Police Station(สภ.บ่อผุด)

The police station that initially detained seven Myanmar nationals.

Koh Samui City Municipality(เทศบาลนครเกาะสมุย)

The municipality where suspects submitted fraudulent requests for registration history.

Department of Provincial Administration(กรมการปกครอง)ℹ️

The government department that issued a warning against registration fraud.

Ministry of Interior(กระทรวงมหาดไทย)ℹ️

The ministry implementing strict policies to suppress registration corruption.

Thanawat Intharasuwan(นายธนาวัต อิณทรสุวรรณ)

The Head of the Investigation and Suppression Group of DOPA N.I.C.E.

Koh Samui District(อำเภอเกาะสมุย)

The administrative area where the fraudulent registration activity took place.

Surat Thani Province(จ.สุราษฎร์ธานี)ℹ️

The province where the illegal registration network operated.

Don Sak District(อ.ดอนสัก)ℹ️

The location of a previous arrest of Rohingya nationals using fraudulent rights.

Bo Phut Subdistrict(ต.บ่อผุด)

The area where seven Myanmar suspects were arrested at their residence.