Six Held in Thailand Over Forged Birth Certificate Tied to 70bn Baht Scam Case
Six Held in Thailand Over Forged Birth Certificate Tied to 70bn Baht Scam Case
BANGKOK, May 1, 2026 — Thai authorities have arrested six people in connection with a network accused of falsifying birth registrations to grant Thai nationality to children linked to a major Chinese organised crime operation, officials said.
The suspects include two Chinese nationals, three Thai men who allegedly falsely claimed paternity, and a district office official accused of facilitating the fraudulent registrations.
Investigators said the scheme allowed individuals tied to a large-scale scam and money laundering case involving more than 70 billion baht ($1.9 billion) to obtain legal status in Thailand.
The arrests follow an earlier probe into a suspected Chinese crime network, in which police tracked illicit funds through multiple accounts to a woman believed to be connected to the operation. Authorities became suspicious after discovering that her children held Thai nationality.
Police said the network arranged for Thai men to marry Chinese women and register themselves as the fathers of their children, enabling the children to claim citizenship by descent under Thai law.
Officials warned that such незаконный acquisition of nationality grants full legal rights, including property ownership, business activity and access to public services, raising concerns over potential misuse for money laundering and other criminal activities.
The operation, dubbed “Reverse Dragon Scale,” involved coordination between the Department of Provincial Administration, police and anti-corruption agencies.
Authorities said at least five similar cases have been identified and investigations are ongoing to locate additional suspects and dismantle the wider network.
