BANGKOK, Thailand – A joint operation led by multiple Thai law enforcement and anti-corruption agencies has dismantled a criminal network involved in forging birth certificates to illegally obtain Thai nationality for stateless foreigners, April 29.
The operation, code-named “Yorn Gled Mangkon” (Reverse Dragon Tactics), was carried out by the Central Investigation Bureau’s Anti-Corruption Division (CIB-ACD), the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC), the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), and the Department of Provincial Administration.
Authorities arrested a total of six suspects under warrants issued by the Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases. The arrests took place at the Thonburi District Registration Office and residential locations in the Thonburi area.
The investigation began after the Department of Provincial Administration received complaints about an illegal scheme issuing birth certificates to non-citizens, allowing them to falsely assume Thai identity. Investigators traced the documents back to the Thonburi district office and uncovered evidence of internal collusion between a corrupt state official and outside accomplices.
Authorities described the case as a serious breach of public trust, involving deliberate falsification of official civil registration documents.
The suspects are divided into two groups. The first group includes one government official from the Thonburi district registration office, charged with abuse of authority, falsification of official documents, and misconduct in office for personal gain.
The second group consists of five individuals accused of supporting the scheme by assisting in the preparation and use of falsified documents, as well as facilitating the unlawful registration process.
All suspects, along with a large number of seized documents and evidence, have been handed over to investigators for further legal proceedings.
