Used Car Scam Uncovered: Suspects Linked to Southern Thailand Bombings
Thai authorities have arrested two men suspected of running a used car scam involving fake registration plates and forged documents—an operation police say has ties to car bombers in Thailand’s insurgency-plagued southern provinces.
A coordinated police operation involving 50 officers raided 14 locations across Bangkok and Nakhon Pathom on Tuesday, July 16, resulting in the arrests of Passawat Yindee, 48, and Thirawit Kingkaew, 30. The crackdown was led by Pol Maj Gen Wittaya Sriprasertphap, commander of the Crime Suppression Division.
The two men were taken into custody separately—one in Bangkok’s Nong Chok district and the other in Nakhon Pathom’s Muang district. Officers seized 41 pieces of evidence including mobile phones, several used cars, counterfeit license plates, and forged registration documents.
Operation Traced via Social Media
The investigation began when highway police flagged a BMW for using a fake license plate. The alert was triggered by a license plate recognition system, which prompted further investigation. Authorities traced the fraudulent plate to a Facebook page called เฮียอ๊อด (“Hia Odd”), which was allegedly being used to sell used cars, fake plates, and forged registration books.
Further digging revealed a broader online operation. Another page, เสี่ยบัง ยอดแหลม (“Sia-Bung Yodlaem”), was also implicated. Both pages were allegedly used to facilitate the sale of cars and falsified documents to customers unaware of—or willing to ignore—the legal risks.
Profits and Confessions
During interrogation, Thirawit reportedly admitted to creating and selling fake vehicle documents. He told officers the illegal trade brought in almost one million baht annually.
Passawat also confessed, saying he sold cars and fake documents through the Facebook pages, charging 2,000 to 5,000 baht per vehicle and 200 to 300 baht per document.
Police said the documents included fake license plates, car registration books, and ownership transfers—making the vehicles appear legitimate for resale.
Link to Car Bombings
Authorities believe the operation was more than just a fraud ring. According to Pol Maj Gen Wittaya, one of the pickup trucks used in a bombing incident in Thailand’s deep South was traced back to this network.
Thailand’s southernmost provinces—Yala, Pattani, and Narathiwat—have long faced unrest due to separatist insurgency. Vehicles used in such attacks are often stolen or purchased using fake identification, making them difficult to trace.
The suspects’ network is believed to have generated over 200 million baht a year, suggesting a sophisticated and far-reaching criminal enterprise.
Investigation Ongoing
Search warrants have been issued for others allegedly involved in the operation. Authorities are expanding their investigation to dismantle the full network and trace any additional connections to violent attacks or broader criminal activity.
Police warn the public against purchasing used vehicles from unverified sources and urge anyone with knowledge of similar operations to come forward.
The case underscores the serious consequences of forged documentation in Thailand—not just as financial fraud but as a potential threat to national security.
