French Nationals Arrested in Thailand for Child Abuse and Drug Trafficking
BANGKOK/PHUKET — Thai immigration police have arrested two French nationals in separate high-profile criminal cases. The first involves a man accused of sexually exploiting children by targeting single mothers, while the second is a fugitive wanted for drug trafficking in France.Child Exploitation Case: French National Preyed on Single Mothers
Immigration Bureau officers acted on a tip from a TikTok user who reported suspicious behavior by Jean Andre, a 40-year-old French national suspected of sexually abusing minors.
Investigations revealed that Andre allegedly used dating apps to connect with Western-oriented Thai single mothers, particularly those with young daughters. After gaining their trust, he would arrange meetings at luxury condos in Bangkok and Pattaya, where he reportedly exploited moments alone with the children.
Authorities allege that Andre sexually abused the children, took explicit photos and videos, and stored the material in private cloud applications on his devices. Several victims, including girls aged 6 to 13, have been identified.
A raid on Andre’s residence uncovered two mobile phones containing hundreds of child abuse files, featuring both Thai and foreign children. Biometric checks confirmed he had overstayed his visa since 2022, making his presence in Thailand illegal.
Andre now faces charges for:
- Possession of child pornography
- Illegal overstay
He was denied bail due to being a flight risk and a public safety threat. Police are expanding the investigation to determine if other accomplices were involved in procuring victims.
Drug Trafficking Case: Fugitive Arrested in Phuket
In a separate case, a 34-year-old Frenchman was arrested in Phuket after fleeing drug-related charges in France. Identified as Alexandre Dubois, he was wanted by Interpol for allegedly smuggling cocaine and MDMA into Europe.
Thai immigration tracked Dubois after discovering he had entered Thailand on a tourist visa and was hiding in Phuket’s expat community. Authorities confirmed his criminal record in France and coordinated with international agencies before arresting him.
Dubois is now awaiting extradition proceedings while facing charges of illegal stay in Thailand.
Ongoing Investigations
Police are:
- Identifying more victims in the child abuse case
- Checking for additional suspects linked to Andre’s crimes
- Processing Dubois’ extradition to France
Both cases highlight Thailand’s crackdown on foreign criminals, particularly those exploiting vulnerable groups. Immigration officials have warned that overstayers and fugitives will face strict legal action.
Thai immigration police arrest a 22-year-old French fugitive who is a key member of a drug trafficking gang wanted by French authorities, in Phuket on July 25, 2025.
