Nigerians nabbed in Thailand over drug traff!cking, r0mance scam

Nigerians nabbed in Thailand over drug trafficking, romance scam

Thai police have arrested six Nigerians over their alleged involvement in an international cocaine trafficking syndicate and an artificial intelligence-powered romance scam that reportedly targeted elderly women.

The suspects were arrested during coordinated raids on three apartments in a luxury condominium near Phra Nang Klao Bridge in Nonthaburi Province, according to a report on Thursday in Bangkok Post.

According to the report, officers of the Thai Metropolitan Police Bureau encountered resistance during the operation after the occupants allegedly refused to open the doors and attempted to destroy evidence before police forced their way into the apartments.

Investigators recovered 18 mobile phones, three laptop computers and three bank passbooks during the raid.

Police said some of the seized phones still contained active conversations relating to suspected drug transactions.

Authorities disclosed that the investigation began in April following the arrest of a suspected kingpin, identified only as Patrick, alongside four accomplices.

Assets valued at about 2.5m baht, around N103m, were reportedly recovered during that operation.

Subsequent financial investigations allegedly linked the six Nigerian suspects to the network.

Police alleged that the suspects entered Thailand on student visas but were living in expensive riverside apartments despite not attending school or engaging in legitimate employment.

Investigators also claimed to have uncovered evidence of an online romance scam in which artificial intelligence was used to generate images of attractive foreign men posing as wealthy pilots, doctors and United States military personnel.

According to police, the fake identities were used to establish online relationships with mainly elderly Thai women before convincing them that expensive gifts had been shipped from overseas but were being withheld by customs officials.

Victims were then allegedly persuaded to send money to facilitate the release of the purported parcels.

Authorities said they also recovered scripts allegedly used by the suspects to manipulate victims emotionally, including conversations designed to exploit loneliness and gain their trust.

The six suspects, aged between 23 and 35, were initially admitted to belonging to a criminal association and overstaying their visas, according to Thai police.

Investigators said additional charges relating to fraud and online romance scams could be filed as investigations continue and more victims come forward.

The arrests came amid growing concerns among law enforcement agencies worldwide over the increasing use of artificial intelligence in facilitating online fraud and transnational organised crime.

The identities of the six Nigerians have not yet been released by Thai authorities.