PATTAYA — Thai immigration police have arrested a Swedish man wanted on an Interpol Red Notice for a major arson case in Sweden, authorities said Tuesday.
Immigration Division 3 officers took the suspect — identified only as a Swedish national wanted in connection with an arson attack in Sävsjö — into custody in Pattaya on November 24 after receiving information from international partners that he had fled to Thailand and was hiding in the resort city, police said.
Pol. Maj. Gen. Songprot Sirisukha, commander of Immigration Division 3, said officers tracked the man down after noticing he matched the description on the arrest warrant. Police said the suspect admitted his identity and was also found to have overstayed his visa.
Investigators said the man had allegedly used fake German identification cards and driver’s licenses to check into hotels and conduct transactions in an attempt to avoid detection.
The arrest follows a directive from the Royal Thai Police to tighten screening measures and crack down on transnational crime as tourism rebounds. Authorities said the case demonstrates Thailand’s effort to ensure the country is not used as a refuge for fugitives.
The suspect was handed over to Pattaya police to face overstay charges, and immigration officials said they are coordinating with the Swedish Embassy on extradition procedures.
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