Recently, the Thai police cracked a major transnational counterfeit currency smuggling case, seizing a batch of fake US dollars illegally imported from Laos and intended for circulation in the black market in Bangkok. It is reported that these counterfeit bills were mainly directed towards illegal gambling and the underground market.
On the early morning of May 9, the Special Operations Unit of the Bangkok Police Headquarters launched a raid in the Saimai district, successfully arresting three suspects and confiscating 7,000 forged $100 bills, totaling a face value of 23 million Thai Baht (approximately 5 million RMB).
The case originated from an anonymous tip received by the police. On the afternoon of May 8, law enforcement officers ambushed near a residential building in Lane 74/1 in the Saimai district. Around six o'clock that evening, a 31-year-old female suspect named Napawan arrived in a white Mazda 2 sedan. The police immediately approached for inspection and found a large number of fake dollars in her black backpack, arresting her on the spot.
The investigation revealed that the criminal gang resold the counterfeit notes to the black market at a price of 350 Thai Baht per note, mainly to illegal gambling venues and underground markets. The cross-border transportation of the counterfeit notes was managed by Karan, 51, and Cheta, 52, who smuggled the fake US dollars from Laos into Thailand through the border in Nong Khai province, and delivered them to Bangkok where Napawan was responsible for distribution. Later, the police also captured Cheta resting at a resort in the Saimai district.
The three suspects have been transferred to the Saimai police station, facing serious charges of "possession and intent to circulate forged foreign currency." According to Thai law, if convicted, they could face up to 15 years in prison. The case is still under further investigation, as the police are looking into whether there is a larger network of counterfeit currency production and cross-border circulation.
The police stated that the successful resolution of this case not only prevented a large amount of counterfeit currency from entering the market but also reflected the increasingly rampant cross-border criminal activities in the border areas. In the future, they will further strengthen intelligence exchange and border inspection efforts with neighboring countries such as Laos.
