Crypto Corruption Exposed: Thailand Police Gang Arrested For $165K Extortion

As a seasoned analyst with extensive experience investigating corruption cases across various countries, I must say that this incident in Thailand is a grim reminder of the pervasive issue of police corruption. The fact that these officers were able to extort such a significant amount from an expat family using intimidation and false charges is deeply troubling.


It seems that certain members of the Thai police force have succumbed to corruption, as suggested by Frank Herbert’s quote in God Emperor of Dune. This is evident in a case involving a group of officers who are accused of extorting money from foreign nationals, including a Chinese-Vanuatu expat. The expat reported that these corrupt cops forced him to give them cryptocurrencies valued at over $165,000.

Thailand: 7 Corrupt Cops Arrested

On Wednesday, the Thai officials disclosed that they’ve taken into custody seven individuals suspected of illegally obtaining digital currency from an individual named Sai.

In this instance, the apprehended law enforcement personnel included Police Lieutenant Colonel Chanachai, Police Captain Amnuay, Police Master Sergeant First Class Chayaphon, Police Master Sergeant First Class Pornthep, Police Master Sergeant First Class Manaswee, and Police Master Sergeant First Class Siam.

It was reported that Sai, a man of Chinese descent who holds citizenship from Vanuatu, resided in Thailand with his family as an expat when the event took place.

On October 28th, three additional officers connected to the incident handed themselves in: Police Captain Thanakrit, Police Senior Sergeant Major Suphan, and Police Sergeant. As for Ms. Aphatsara and Mr. Yun, who functioned as interpreters during the crime, they are still at large.

In my investigation as a researcher, I encountered a demanding group within Thailand’s law enforcement who sought an equivalent of either 300 million Thai Baht or 10 million US Dollars in exchange for dismissing the ongoing case. #Thailand #CorruptPolice

— Khaosod English (@KhaosodEnglish) November 1, 2024

Unauthorized Search

Sai explained that some people purporting to be Thai police officials came to their residence in Bang Phli Yai, Bang Phli District, Samut Prakan Province. They displayed what looked like a search warrant, which they claimed was issued by the Samut Prakan Provincial Court.

Sai openly acknowledged that he didn’t check the contents of the document because neither he nor anyone in his home knew how to read Thai. The presence of a government seal, however, led him to believe the document was legitimate, which is why he granted permission for the police to conduct a search at his residence.

Crypto Corruption Exposed: Thailand Police Gang Arrested For $165K Extortion

Here’s a possible way of paraphrasing the sentence:

Sai stated that the police confiscated their mobile devices and a computer, all while warning them about potential charges for employing foreign housekeepers illegally.

Extorted Money

As testified by Sai, the corrupt police officers proposed to him a deal where they’d drop the case if he paid 10 million USDT or approximately 300 million Thai baht. However, he declined their offer as he maintained his innocence and did not possess that amount of Thai currency at the time.

As a result, the authorities escorted him and his family to Building B of the Government Complex. The rogue officers then reduced their ransom demand to 10 million baht, but he refused to accept it.

Sai explained that he was taken to an interrogation room and agreed to their requirement of $165,000 or 5.6 million Thai baht under duress for the release of his family. He mentioned that he sent 149,253 USDT to Aphatsara’s digital wallet, one of the interpreters.

A few days past, Sai admitted that he transferred an additional 20,895 USD following the dishonest policemen’s request for him to pay 700,000 Thai baht in exchange for identifying who had tipped off the police about him.

Report The Incident To The Authorities

Sai chose to engage a lawyer to examine an event that exposed false criminal accusations. He then filed a report about this incident at the Bang Sue Police Station, triggering a search and capture operation targeting the 12 individuals implicated in the extortion case.

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2024-11-03 12:11