CHIANG RAI — Eight people were arrested Thursday in Chiang Rai on suspicion of running a scheme that illegally issued Thai identity cards to foreigners, including Chinese and Myanmar nationals, allegedly enabling scammers, drug traffickers and money‑launderers, police said.
Deputy national police chief Pol Gen Samran Nuanma said police, administrative officials and representatives from the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) and the Office of the Public Sector Anti‑Corruption Commission (PACC) made the arrests during raids at six locations in Wiang Chiang Rung, Mueang, Doi Luang and Wiang Kaen districts.
Three of the arrested suspects were Thai government officials, including former Wiang Kaen assistant chief Achira Jaisuya and territorial defence volunteers Siwarak Chailangkan and Pumin Kanthawee.
The other five are foreigners who illegally held ID cards. One is a Chinese woman identified as Kalaya Sae Fung, who holds shares in a technology company with a 1‑billion‑baht registered capital. Another is a Myanmar man who holds shares in four companies, including oil companies in Myanmar and Singapore. Three of the five foreigners were identified only as Bualai, Tawanchai and Chan.
According to Pol Gen Samran, corrupt officials in Wiang Kaen issued homeless student ID cards to Chinese, Myanmar, Lao and Vietnamese nationals in 2024 and 2025. The gang charged each alien about 100,000 baht. Police suspect some card holders included scammers and drug traffickers.
Aliens holding ID cards registered to people without home registration could travel, open bank accounts, conduct transactions and later apply for Thai citizenship. Such ID cards could also be used to launder money.
Police suspected the ID‑card gang issued documents for about 200 aliens. Fourteen other suspects remained at large.
