
BANGKOK — Immigration police arrested an American national who was found to be on an FBI wanted list during an overstay investigation in Thailand. Police Lieutenant General Phantana Nuchanat, Deputy Commissioner of the Immigration Bureau, announced the arrest at the Immigration Bureau headquarters on February 5.
The arrest came after Division 4 of the Immigration Investigation Division received a tip about a suspicious foreigner allegedly overstaying in Nakhon Ratchasima province. Officers located the individual matching the description and requested to see his passport. The suspect, who was unable to produce his travel documents, claimed his passport was being renewed at the U.S. Embassy.
Officers took him to the Nakhon Ratchasima Immigration Office for biometric fingerprint verification, which identified him as Mr. Negri (surname withheld), a 57-year-old American citizen whose permission to stay in Thailand had expired. He was subsequently charged with overstaying his visa.
Further investigation in coordination with the FBI and the U.S. Embassy in Thailand revealed that Negri was wanted by authorities in the state of Georgia and the FBI on charges related to child exploitation and distribution of child abuse materials through computer systems.
Thai authorities are now working with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the U.S. Embassy to process his extradition, as Thailand maintains an extradition treaty with the United States.
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