PHUKET — Thai police have detained a 48-year-old American man wanted on eight arrest warrants in the United States over alleged sexual offenses involving children, following a request for assistance from the FBI.
The Royal Thai Police said on 27 August that the US Federal Bureau of Investigation had asked Thai authorities to locate Lance Michael Bec, who is wanted under seven state-level warrants and one federal warrant issued in Alabama.
US authorities allege that Bec is involved in multiple offenses related to the sexual abuse of minors, including sexual torture, rape, human trafficking, facilitating the travel of children for illegal sexual activity, sexual abuse and incest.
Thai investigators said their information indicated that Bec was allegedly involved in the sexual abuse of children under 14 and had recorded the acts on video before fleeing the US and traveling to Thailand.
Thai police, immigration officers and investigators in Phuket traced Bec to a Hotel in Sakhu subdistrict, Thalang district, after determining that he had entered Thailand through Phuket International Airport.
At around 14:15 on 29 August, officers located Bec at the hotel. He acknowledged that he was the person being sought by authorities.
Immigration officers revoked his permission to remain in Thailand and transferred him to an Immigration Detention Center (IDC) for further legal proceedings.
Thai authorities said arrangements were being made to return Bec to the United States, where he is expected to face the outstanding charges.
