Bangkok: In a significant crackdown on fraudulent citizenship practices, senior officials from the Royal Thai Police, led by Pol. Gen. Samran Nuanma, have collaborated with the DOPA NICE special task force and other agencies to dismantle the notorious "Thai Thip Father" network. This operation uncovered nearly 1,500 instances of children impersonating legitimate Thai citizens.
According to Thai News Agency, the operation was a coordinated effort involving Pol. Lt. Gen. Nophasil Phoolsawat, Pol. Lt. Gen. Siam Boonsom, and various other high-ranking officials. The coalition also included the Department of Provincial Administration, the Anti-Money Laundering Office, the Anti-Corruption Commission, the Department of Special Investigation, and the Department of Health Service Support. Their joint effort targeted a network that illicitly registered birth certificates for foreign children, enabling them to obtain Thai citizenship unlawfully.
During the operation, authorities executed raids across several locations, including a residence in Huai Khwang, a private hospital in the Rama 9 area, and a district office. They arrested four key individuals: two Thai men acting as surrogate fathers, and two Chinese nationals, identified as the biological parents. The investigation revealed that these Thai men were compensated to falsely register as fathers of the children. One of the surrogate fathers, Mr. Wor, was found to have a criminal history involving drug offenses and gambling.
Pol. Gen. Samran highlighted that the investigation, in collaboration with DOPA NICE, uncovered 1,483 suspicious child accounts across the nation, linked to eight hospitals. The operation, spanning from July 9-24, 2016, led to the identification of 22 suspected children and the arrest of 37 individuals, including surrogate fathers, Chinese parents, a government official, and a hospital staff member.
The suspects face charges of making false statements to officials, using forged documents, and fraudulent registration to secure Thai citizenship. Authorities have since revoked the citizenship and registration of all fraudulently registered children. The Immigration Bureau is actively coordinating with relevant foreign entities to prosecute those involved, and the investigation continues to thwart this transnational criminal network.
The Royal Thai Police reaffirmed their commitment to protecting the integrity of the civil registration system and ensuring national security. They urged the public to report any suspicious activities to local police or through the 1599 hotline, which operates 24/7.