A joint multi-agency task force launched an operation in Chiang Mai on Wednesday, targeting a massive graft network that illegally issued non-citizen identity cards to over 5,000 foreign nationals, including Chinese citizens who paid up to 100,000 baht each.
The operation was triggered by information supplied by the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) and complaints received by the Department of Provincial Administration's ‘DOPA N.I.C.E.’ centre.
Investigations have revealed that a syndicate operating in Chai Prakan district illegally created non-status registration profiles and issued ‘Type 0’ non-citizen identity cards to 5,044 individuals. Corrupt officials intentionally captured incomplete fingerprint scans during registration to bypass automated duplicate detection in the national civil registry database.
Scammers also forged documents to add foreign applicants to local house registration books, whose real names on passports differed from their newly assigned identity cards, despite the applicants having no real residence or physical housing in the area.
Official registry records for these cases were subsequently reported lost or destroyed.
The investigation culminated in the Criminal Court issuing 36 arrest and 12 search warrants. The targets included a former municipal official, 11 individuals who acted as false certifying witnesses, and 23 foreign nationals who fraudulently obtained registration.
On Wednesday, a combined force from the Department of Provincial Administration, police, the NACC, the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC), Chiang Mai Provincial Office and the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), executed raids across targeted locations, arresting 20 suspects under active warrants.
District authorities in Chai Prakan have already revoked 74 illegal civil registry entries, with 23 additional cases processed immediately following Wednesday's arrests.
The remaining 4,947 suspicious entries have been flagged on a high-priority caution list, while a provincial fact-finding committee investigates their status for possible complete revocation.
Officials confirmed that rigorous disciplinary and criminal proceedings will be pursued against all public servants and accomplices involved without exception.
Members of the public with information on registry fraud are encouraged to report leads directly to the DOPA N.I.C.E. Centre hotline at 02 791 7935 or via its official Facebook page.
