Thailand Extradites Two More South Korean Scammers
BANGKOK — Thailand has extradited the final two South Korean nationals linked to an international call center scam, completing the repatriation of all 19 suspects arrested last month in Chonburi Province.
Inspector General Thatchai Pitaneelabutr confirmed the extradition of the last two South Korean suspects on September 23, sending them back to face charges in South Korea. Their return marks the conclusion of a coordinated operation that dismantled a scam ring in Bang Lamung District.
Coordinated Handover
The extradition was coordinated with Kim Doo-song, South Korean police consul in Thailand, alongside officials from the Foreign Affairs Division’s Region 2 unit. South Korean police officers traveled to Thailand to escort the suspects back home for prosecution. The first 17 suspects had already been extradited earlier this month.
How the Investigation Began
The case originated on August 5 at 2:00 a.m., when Lee Young-gun, police consul at the South Korean Embassy in Bangkok, alerted Thai authorities. The father of a 31-year-old South Korean man reported that his son was being forced to work, abused, and at risk of being moved to an unknown location.
Tourist police quickly investigated, locating the victim in the Seaside Community area of Na Jomtien, Sattahip District, Chonburi Province. The man was rescued safely from a house where he had been confined.
Raids and Arrests
The following morning, on August 6 at 10:00 a.m., Thai police expanded the investigation. They discovered around 20 South Korean and Chinese nationals living in a Bang Lamung village while operating an illegal call center.
Working with the South Korean Embassy, tourist police raided the property and arrested eight suspects: six South Korean men, one South Korean woman, and one Chinese man. All admitted to running fraudulent operations targeting South Korean citizens.
A second raid was conducted at their workplace, a commercial building in Moo 1, Huay Yai Subdistrict, which had been converted into a sealed two-floor call center. Inside, authorities found 14 laptops, 4 desktop computers, and 15 mobile phones.
Legal Action and Deportation
The suspects were detained by tourist police, and their visas revoked through Chonburi Immigration. All evidence was transferred to Huay Yai Police Station for prosecution.
Following a month of coordination between Thai and South Korean authorities, all 19 suspects have now been extradited to face charges abroad.
The case highlights Thailand’s ongoing cooperation with international law enforcement in combating cross-border cybercrime and human trafficking-linked scams.
