Thai police bust Korean scam gang, rescue kidnap victim

Thai police have arrested 20 scam suspects from South Korea and one Chinese national who were found operating at a luxury pool villa in Bang Lamung district, Chon Buri province.

At around 2:30 p.m. on June 21, after receiving information from South Korea’s embassy, officers from the Tourist Police, Immigration Bureau, and Bang Lamung police raided the villa. At the scene, they found a group of men seated in front of computers.

Upon seeing the officers, several suspects attempted to flee, and one got injured. All were eventually apprehended.

During the raid, police discovered a whiteboard with Korean-language messages promoting investment schemes. Investigators believe the operation is part of a broader scam network involving romance scams, where victims are lured into fake relationships and persuaded to transfer money.

Colonel Songwut Chueaplakij, superintendent of Tourist Police Division 2, said all seized items would be examined to determine their use in criminal activities.

The suspects have been handed over to investigators for legal proceedings under Thai law.