Lt. Gen. Trairong Phiwphan, Commissioner of the Technology Crime Suppression Division, announces the results of the arrest of an Australian-Thai couple for illegally ordering and possessing weapons and military ordnance on June 18, 2025.
BANGKOK — Cyber police arrested an Australian man and a Thai woman for ordering gun silencers online; a large cache was found at a Udon Thani residence.
The Technology Crime Suppression Division launched an investigation after discovering someone was using an account called “Goodluck Airrow” on a popular online marketplace. The account, with over 1,500 followers, was posting images of silencers and other illegal equipment across 14 listings.
Investigators found that the seller avoided directly naming the equipment as gun-related accessories, instead using terms like “spare parts” to evade police detection.
They then conducted a test purchase of a gun silencer, which was listed in the app as an “Oil Filter 35mm Thread Connector.” The store actually delivered the item, prompting police to send the package for inspection by the Ordnance Division of the Royal Thai Police and the Munitions Control Division of the Department of Military Industry, Ministry of Defense.
Test results confirmed the item was military ordnance without proper authorization from the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defense to possess such silencer equipment.
Cyber Police arrest an Australian-Thai couple for illegally ordering and possessing weapons and military ordnance in Udon Thani, on June 18, 2025.
Police first arrested Mr. Surasit, 43, a kindergarten teacher at a school in Nakhon Sawan Province on March 28, before expanding the investigation to another buyer using the name “chase2023” who had ordered silencers from the store more than 11 times.
Lt. Gen. Trairong Phiwphan, Commissioner of the Technology Crime Suppression Division, said further investigation revealed another suspect who had ordered military equipment. Police obtained a search warrant from Udon Thani Provincial Court dated June 16 to search a residence in Moo 5, Tambon Khambong, Ban Phue District, Udon Thani Province, where Ms. Atitaya, 39, was living together with Mr. Adam, 37, an Australian national.
Officers seized evidence including 3 black long-barrel firearms, 3 black silencers, and 3,500 rounds of ammunition of unknown caliber.
Both suspects confessed to owning the gun silencers, admitting they had ordered them from the online store “Goodluck Airrow.”
Police charged both suspects with jointly possessing firearms without permission from the local registrar and possessing military ordnance without authorization from the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defense.
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra addresses the leaked private conversation with former Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen that circulated on social media on June 18, 2025.
BANGKOK — Thailand’s political landscape has intensified following the release of a private audio conversation between Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen on Wednesday. Opposition groups and anti-Thaksin factions have called for the female prime minister’s resignation or parliament dissolution, with some citing concerns about preventing a military coup.
Audio Leak Details
Former Cambodian Prime Minister and current Senate President Hun Sen confirmed on June 18 the authenticity of the 17-minute, 6-second audio clip on Wednesday. Initially, a 9.5-minute version was leaked, but Hun Sen subsequently released the entire conversation. The discussion included interpreter Mr. Kleang Huot, with Hun Sen claiming the recording was necessary for transparency and internal Cambodian use to avoid misunderstandings in official matters.
Hun Sen stated that “a few hours after the conversation, the Thai Prime Minister accused the Cambodian leader of engaging in ‘unprofessional’ politics and conducting political activities via Facebook, an action that contradicts her own words.”
Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra pays a courtesy visit to Hun Sen, President of the Senate and President of the Privy Council of the Kingdom of Cambodia in Phnom Penh on April 23, 2025. (Government House)
Controversial Statements
Opposition and anti-government groups have heavily criticized Paetongtarn’s remarks in the audio, including:
Referring to Hun Sen as “uncle”
Advising not to listen to Thailand’s Second Army Region commander, calling him someone who “opposes us and wants to look tough”
Telling Hun Sen to inform her of any requests so she could handle them
Asking for sympathy, saying she faces heavy attacks and has even been told to become Cambodia’s prime minister
Opposition leader Nattapong Ruangpanyawut called on PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra to dissolve parliament to show responsibility for the mishandling of Thai-Cambodia border conflict and to prevent a coup.
“If the Prime Minister cannot quickly restore the confidence and trust of the Thai people, I urge Ms Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the Prime Minister, to take political responsibility under the democratic system by dissolving parliament to return power to the people and to prevent certain groups from escalating Paetongtarn’s mistakes, leading to a situation that is not beneficial to our democracy,” he said.
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra pays a courtesy visit to Hun Sen, President of the Senate and Privy Council of the Kingdom of Cambodia, at the Senate building in Phnom Penh on April 23, 2025.
Border Tensions Context
Overlooked content in the conversation included the Thai PM’s desire to restore calm before potential military clashes between the two sides (referring to the March 28 incident). She added that the new generation, like herself and Hun Manet, must ensure there is no war.
Hun Sen’s condition was for Thailand to lift all border checkpoint restrictions, after which Cambodia would return to normal operations. Paetongtarn responded that she would discuss this with the Ministry of Defence first.
No More Private Conversations
Prime Minister Paetongtarn confirmed the clip’s authenticity, calling it a private conversation and describing Cambodia’s move as an attempt to create division between her government and the military. She understood the clip’s release was intended to boost Hun Sen’s popularity and stated there would be no more private conversations between them. Regarding future trust between the two families, she expressed uncertainty.
Paetongtarn insisted there are no problems between the government and military, emphasizing that she always consults with military leadership before taking action.
Lt. Gen. Boonsin Padklang, Commander of the 2nd Army Region, receives a cash donation of 1,000,000 baht from Luang Pu Sutjai Phattapanyo, abbot of Sawansamakkee Thammavanaram Temple in Roi Et province, for the 2nd Army Region’s operations along the Thai-Cambodian border, at the Royal Thai Army Television station in Bangkok on June 18, 2025.
“I understand. There’s nothing.”
Various military Facebook pages, including those of the Royal Thai Army and the Civil Affairs Department, posted morale-boosting messages about military dignity and demonstrated strong stances on defending national sovereignty.
Second Army Region Commander Lt. Gen. Boonsin Padklang said Wednesday afternoon that PM Paetongtarn called to explain the situation, and he harbors no grievances against her, stating “I understand. There’s nothing.”
Coalition Crisis
The international political tension coincides with internal government strain amid ongoing cabinet reshuffle rumors. The Interior Ministry has been particularly contentious, with reports that the Pheu Thai Party wants to reclaim it from the Bhumjaithai Party. Deputy PM Anutin Charnvirakul has refused, declaring readiness to become opposition and recently removing his belongings from the Interior Ministry.
Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul speaks to the media at his desk in the Interior Ministry on his final day in office, after announcing his party’s withdrawal from the government over the refusal to reassign this ministerial post, on June 18, 2025.
In his final interview as Interior Minister, Anutin said he had worked there for nearly two years with solidarity and policy implementation, with no gaps between permanent and political staff. He considered his responsibilities concluded and would resume his MP duties after leaving office.
As opposition party, Bhumjaithai will oppose the Entertainment Bill and not support the 2026 budget.
Anutin’s Stance on Audio Leak
When asked about the leaked audio, Anutin said that Bhumjaithai Party members were not particularly pleased, but he maintained that he still has a good relationship with the Prime Minister. He described this as a difficult time for her — not a moment for criticism or negativity.
“Right now, nothing sounds good when asked. In turbulent situations, we need time to regain composure and resolve issues. Don’t rush to get emotional or try to fix things hastily, because the more you fix, the more tangled it becomes. We might need to stay quiet for a while,” he said in conclusion.
However, his party, Bhumjaithai, later issued a statement announcing its withdrawal from the Pheu Thai-led coalition government and called on Prime Minister Paetongtarn to take responsibility for the leaked and controversial audio clip.
CIB officers escort 13 suspects from an Australian scam ring out of the Central Investigation Bureau's complaint center to be transferred to Criminal Court for detention, where the court granted bail to only 2 individuals on June 18, 2025.
BANGKOK — Just a day after a press conference announcing cooperation between Thai and Australian police in dismantling a major fraud operation, Thai authorities have put 13 foreign suspects on trial, with 10 denied bail and 3 granted bail.
On June 18, Pol. Col. Netiwit Thanasitnitikul, superintendent of Sub-Division 2 of the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), along with investigators, took the suspects to the Criminal Court to arrest them. The group, which is allegedly part of a call centre ring targeting Australians, — includes nationals from Australia, the UK, Canada and South Africa.
The suspects are: Mr. Mark (54), Mr. Mark Andrew (56), Mr. Nicholas (43), Mr. Brett (51), Mr. Ellis (59), Mr. Mark M. (61), Mr. Jeremy (44), Mr. Christopher (48), Mr. Dean (42), Mr. Lewis Samuel (30), Mr. Lewis Robbie (40), Mr. Luke (45), and Mr. Szeto (58).
They are accused of several criminal offences, including: Membership of a clandestine criminal organisation with unlawful intent (comparable to running a mafia-like group), working illegally as a foreigner without the appropriate permit and engaging in unauthorised employment with a temporary residence permit.
Later, after consideration, the court granted temporary bail to three suspects: Mr. Lewis Samuel (30), Mr. Szeto (58), and Mr. Mark M. (60), all British nationals residing in Bangkok.
Pol. Col. Arun Wachirasrisukanya, deputy commander of the Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Division and head of the operation, said some suspects had confessed to targeting about 14,000 Australians, according to documents seized.
Central Investigation Bureau officers arrest a transnational scammer network involving Australian, British, Canadian, and South African nationals at a residence in Samut Prakan Province on June 16, 2025.
Although they had only just started the operation and had defrauded only 14 people, resulting in losses of about 2 million Australian dollars (about $1.3 million USD), the ring’s leaders had set a target of scamming up to AU$80 million (about $52 million USD) by December 2025.
The investigation began in May 2024 after Thai police received information from the Australian Federal Police (AFP) about key suspects believed to have fled to Thailand following a raid in Indonesia. Surveillance confirmed that the two ringleaders, Mr Mark (Australian) and Mr Mark Andrew (British), were hiding in Pattaya in Chonburi province and later moved to Bangkok where they reconstituted the call centre gang.
They operated from a house in Bang Phli Yai, Samut Prakan, which was heavily guarded and covered with tarpaulins to prevent visibility from outside. After gathering solid evidence, Thai police obtained a search warrant from the Criminal Court and conducted a raid in cooperation with the CIB’s Sub-Division 2, successfully arresting all suspects involved.
FILE- An overview of Cambodia's 11th century Hindu Preah Vihear temple, UNESCO's World Heritage, is seen in Preah Vihear province, about 245 kilometers (152 miles) north of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2011. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith, File)
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — Tens of thousands of people gathered in Cambodia’s capital Phnom Penh on Wednesday for a march to show their solidarity with the government and military, amid soaring tensions with neighboring Thailand following a border row that erupted last month.
Here’s what to know about the latest dispute between the two Southeast Asian neighbors.
What was the latest conflict about?
The recent dispute was triggered in May after armed forces of Thailand and Cambodia briefly fired at each other in a relatively small “no man’s land” constituting territory along their border that both countries claim as their own.
Both sides have said they acted in self-defense. One Cambodian soldier was killed.
People participate in a government-organized unity parade in support of Cambodian frontline forces guarding the territory and sovereignty of the country in Phnom Penh Cambodia, Wednesday, June 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)
While the countries said afterwards they have agreed to de-escalate the situation, Cambodian and Thai authorities continue to implement or threaten measures short of armed force at each other, keeping tensions high.
Thailand has added restrictions at the border such as limiting crossing times and barring Thai casino tourists and workers from crossing into Cambodia.
Border disputes are long-standing issues that have caused periodic tensions between the two neighbors. Thailand and Cambodia share more than 800 kilometers (500 miles) of land border.
The contesting claims stem largely from a 1907 map drawn under French colonial rule that was used to separate Cambodia from Thailand.
Cambodia has been using the map as a reference to claim territory, while Thailand has argued the map is inaccurate.
FILE- A Cambodian Buddhist monk walks toward the Cambodia’s 11th century Hindu Preah Vihear temple, which was enlisted as UNESCO’s World Heritage site in Preah Vihear province, about 245 kilometers (152 miles) north of Phnom Penh, Cambodia Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2011. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith, File)
In February, Cambodian troops and their family members entered an ancient temple along the border in one of the disputed areas and sang the Cambodian national anthem, leading to a brief argument with Thai troops.
In 1962, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) awarded sovereignty over the area to Cambodia and that became a major irritant in relations.
Cambodia went back to the court in 2011, following several clashes between its army and Thai forces which killed about 20 and displaced thousands of people. The court reaffirmed the ruling in 2013, a decision that still rattled Thailand.
What happens next?
Similar to the Phear Vihear area, Cambodia is seeking a ruling again from the ICJ over several disputed areas, including where the deadly clash happened.
FILE- Armored personnel carriers of Cambodian Army drive through a road at Kampong Thom town, about 168 kilometers (104 mikes) north of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Saturday, Feb. 12, 2011. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith, File)
Thailand has said it doesn’t accept the jurisdiction of the ICJ and that any conflicting border claims between the two should be solved by the existing bilateral mechanism, including a joint committee which was established in 2000 as a technical means to discuss the survey and demarcation of the land border.
Cambodia nevertheless said it has submitted the case to the ICJ, and insisted that it would no longer discuss these areas under the two countries’ bilateral mechanism.
Tensions have soared as they engaged in a war of words that appeared intended to mollify nationalistic critics on both sides of the border.
FILE- A Cambodian woman visits Cambodia’s Preah Vihear temple, near the disputed border with Thailand, in Preah Vihear province, about 245 kilometers (152 miles) north of Phnom Penh, Cambodia Wednesday, July 6, 2011. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith, File)
Bickering neighbors
The ill feeling between the two neighbors is not just about overlapping border claims, but also deep-seated cultural enmity that has its roots from centuries ago, when they were large and competing empires.
In more modern times, bad feelings have lingered, as Cambodia’s development, hindered by French colonialism and, in the 1970s, the brutal rule of the communist Khmer Rouge, has fallen well behind Thailand.
Both have fought over claims on cultural products ranging from boxing, mask dancing, traditional clothing and food.
Immigration police apprehend a Singaporean suspect upon his arrival at Suvarnabhumi Airport on June 18, 2025.
SUVARNABHUMI — Thai immigration police have arrested a Singaporean man at Suvarnabhumi Airport on charges related to human trafficking and money laundering as part of an intensified crackdown on wanted individuals.
Immigration police apprehended Mr. Dexter, a Singaporean national, upon his arrival on Singapore Airlines flight SQ 714 from Singapore on June 18. The arrest was coordinated after authorities received intelligence that a foreign national wanted on prostitution and money laundering charges would be entering Thailand through the airport.
The suspect faces multiple serious charges including:
Conspiracy to procure, entice, or transport persons for immoral purposes
Promoting and facilitating prostitution while receiving various forms of benefits
Advertising or soliciting prostitution through documents and public media
Conspiracy to commit money laundering with actual criminal acts
Preliminary investigations indicate the suspect was involved in transnational human trafficking operations, specifically recruiting young women for prostitution and systematically transferring financial proceeds for money laundering purposes.
Immigration authorities have transferred the suspect to the Technology Crime Suppression Division’s 3rd Operations Control Division for legal proceedings and to expand investigations into related networks. The Central Investigation Bureau will provide further details in upcoming press briefings.
Immigration Bureau leadership emphasized that preventing and suppressing human trafficking and transnational crime remains a top priority, with full coordination planned among all relevant agencies for comprehensive enforcement action.
This satellite image provided by Maxar Technologies shows the Isfahan enrichment facility in Iran after being hit by Israeli airstrikes, on Saturday, June 14, 2025. (Maxar Technologies via AP)
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Intense Israeli airstrikes targeted Iran’s capital early Wednesday after it issued a warning about a new area it could target, a day after U.S. President Donald Trump warned Tehran’s residents to evacuate and demanded that the country surrender without conditions.
Uncertainty roiled the region and residents of Tehran fled their homes in droves on the fifth day of Israel’s air campaign aimed at Iran’s military and nuclear program.
The U.N. nuclear watchdog for the first time said Israeli strikes on Iran’s main uranium-enrichment facility at Natanz had also damaged its main underground centrifuge facility, not just an above-ground facility, as previously acknowledged.
A major explosion could be heard around 5 a.m. in Tehran Wednesday morning, following other explosions that boomed earlier in the predawn darkness.
Authorities in Iran offered no acknowledgement of the attacks, which has become increasingly common as the Israeli airstrike campaign has intensified since they began on Friday.
The Israelis earlier warned they could strike a neighborhood south of Mehrabad International Airport, which includes residential neighborhoods, military installations, pharmaceutical companies and industrial firms.
This satellite image provided by Maxar Technologies shows the Natanz nuclear facility in Iran on Jan. 24, 2025. (Maxar Technologies via AP)
Israel also claimed that it had killed Iran’s Gen. Ali Shadmani, whom Israel described as the country’s most senior remaining military commander, in Tehran.
Shadmani was little known in the country before being appointed last week to a chief-of-staff-like role as head of the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters following the killing of his predecessor, Gen. Gholam Ali Rashid, in an Israeli strike.
Trump demands Iranian surrender
Trump left the Group of Seven summit in Canada a day early to deal with the conflict between Israel and Iran, telling reporters: “I’m not looking at a ceasefire. We’re looking at better than a ceasefire.”
When asked to explain, he said the U.S. wanted to see “a real end” to the conflict that could involve Iran “giving up entirely.” He added: “I’m not too much in the mood to negotiate.”
Writing on social media later, Trump warned Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei that the U.S. knows where he is hiding and called for Iran’s “UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER,” without elaborating.
Iranian supreme leader, shows Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a televised speech, under a portrait of the late revolutionary founder Ayatollah Khomeini, Friday, June 13, 2025. (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader via AP)
Trump posted that there were no plans to kill Khamenei “at least not for now.” Despite warning that U.S. “patience is wearing thin,” he indicated that diplomatic talks remained an option, and said he could send Vice President JD Vance and special envoy Steve Witkoff to meet with the Iranians.
Iran vows further attacks
Iran offered no immediate response to the president’s posts, but the country’s military leaders vowed that Israel would soon see more attacks.
“The operations carried out so far have been solely for the purpose of warning and deterrence,” Gen. Abdul Rahim Mousavi, the commander in chief of Iran’s army, said in a video. “The punishment operation will be carried out soon.”
Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke about the evolving situation over the phone on Tuesday, according to a White House official who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity.
Israel’s military warned the population to stay close to shelters as Iran fired new salvos of missiles, but officials said most were intercepted. Sirens blared in southern Israel, including in the desert town of Dimona, the heart of Israel’s never-acknowledged nuclear arms program.
Iran launched another barrage early Wednesday. Israeli rescue services had no immediate reports of injuries. Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard claimed in a message that the barrage included the use of Fatah missiles, which Tehran describes as hypersonic. Israel has not acknowledge Iran using hypersonic missiles.
The Israeli Iron Dome air defense system fires to intercept missiles during an Iranian attack over Tel Aviv, Israel, early Wednesday, June 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)
Hypersonic weapons, which fly at speeds higher than Mach 5, pose crucial challenges to missile defense systems because of their speed and maneuverability.
The U.S. State Department announced that the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem will remain closed through Friday due to “the current security situation and ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran.”
Iran has fired fewer missiles in each of its barrages, with a handful launched late Tuesday. It has not explained the drop in missiles fired, but the decline comes after Israel targeted many Iranian launchers.
Shops closed, lines for gas in Iran’s capital
Trump warned on social media that “everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran,” echoing an earlier Israeli military call for some 330,000 residents of a downtown neighborhood there to evacuate.
Tehran is one of the largest cities in the Middle East, with around 10 million people, roughly equivalent to Israel’s entire population. People have been fleeing since hostilities began.
Asked why he had urged the evacuation, Trump said: “I just want people to be safe.”
On the roads out of Tehran to the west, traffic stood bumper to bumper. Many middle- and upper-class Iranians were headed to the Caspian Sea, a popular getaway spot. Long lines snaked from Tehran’s gas stations.
Satellite images analyzed Wednesday by The Associated Press appear to show no vessels anchored off the headquarters of the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet in Bahrain, about 660 miles (1,062 kilometers) south of Tehran. Dispersing ships is a common safety technique employed by navies around the world in times of trouble.
Iran has threatened to target U.S. military installations in the region, though there’s not been any attack so far since the Israeli campaign against Iran began on Friday
Signs that Iran is restricting access to outside world
Iranian authorities appeared to be curbing the public’s access to the outside world. Phone and internet service was disrupted, with landline phones unable to receive or dial international calls. NetBlocks, an internet monitoring group, reported that it had detected a significant drop in internet traffic from the country.
Iran’s Cyber Security Command acknowledged the internet restrictions and in a statement carried by Iranian state television said it was “implementing numerous measures for different parts of the country” The move was meant to stop enemies from “continuing to exploit infrastructure to carry out cyber and military operations,” the statement said.
Iran has restricted important communications tools in past nationwide protests and during the 1980s Iran-Iraq war.
International websites appeared to be blocked, but local websites were functioning, likely signaling that Iran had turned on the so-called “halal net,” its locally controlled version of the internet aimed at limiting what the public can see.
Iran’s state TV on Tuesday urged the public to remove the messaging app WhatsApp from their cellphones, alleging without evidence that the app gathered user information to send to Israel.
In a statement, WhatsApp said it was concerned that “these false reports will be an excuse for our services to be blocked at a time when people need them the most.”
Nuclear agency reports more damage to enrichment site
The International Atomic Energy Agency said it believed that Israel’s first aerial attacks on Iran’s Natanz enrichment site had directly affected the facility’s underground centrifuge facility.
Satellite imagery collected after Friday’s attacks showed “additional elements that indicate direct impacts on the underground enrichment halls,” the watchdog said.
The IAEA earlier reported that Israeli strikes had destroyed an above-ground enrichment hall at Natanz and knocked out electrical equipment that powered the facility, which is 220 kilometers (135 miles) southeast of Tehran.
Most of Iran’s enrichment takes place underground to protect from airstrikes.
This satellite image provided by Maxar Technologies shows the Natanz nuclear enrichment facility, where multiple buildings were destroyed from recent Israeli airstrikes, 135 miles southeast of Tehran, Iran, Saturday, June 14, 2025. (Maxar Technologies via AP)
Israel has struck Natanz repeatedly and claims to have hurt its underground facilities, which experts assess contain 10,000 centrifuges that enrich uranium up to 60%.
Iran maintains its nuclear program is peaceful, and the U.S. and others have assessed that Tehran has not had an organized effort to pursue a nuclear weapon since 2003. But the IAEA has repeatedly warned that the country has enough enriched uranium to make several nuclear bombs should it choose to do so.
Hitting Fordo would require the U.S. to get involved militarily and deploy B-2 stealth bombers to drop its bunker-busting bomb. The 30,000-pound (14,000-kilogram) GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator uses its weight and sheer kinetic force to reach deeply buried targets.
Before leaving the G7 summit, Trump joined the other leaders in a joint statement saying that Iran “can never have a nuclear weapon” and calling for a “de-escalation of hostilities in the Middle East, including a ceasefire in Gaza.”
French President Emmanuel Macron told reporters that discussions were underway on a ceasefire between Israel and Iran, but Trump shot that down in his comments on social media, saying, “Wrong! He has no idea why I am now on my way to Washington, but it certainly has nothing to do with a Cease Fire. Much bigger than that.”
Police arrest the Dutch national on an arrest warrant for fraud charges in the Pa Khlok area of Thalang District, Phuket Province on June 17, 2025.
PHUKET — Following orders from the National Police Office directing all police units to conduct crime sweeps focusing on firearms violations and arrest warrant executions from June 14-20, Tourist Police have made a significant arrest in Phuket.
Pol. Lt. Gen. Saksira Phuak-am ordered all Tourist Police units to investigate and arrest offenders through integrated operations with local agencies. Tourist Police Region 3 reviewed outstanding arrest warrants in their area and identified a Dutch national with pending fraud charges.
Mr. Cornelis, 65, a Netherlands national, was reported to police last year by his German business partner with whom he operated a restaurant in Patong, Phuket. The German partner alleged fraud with damages of approximately 350,000 baht ($10,740).
Police arrest the Dutch national on an arrest warrant for fraud charges in the Pa Khlok area of Thalang District, Phuket Province on June 17, 2025.
After police investigators gathered evidence, they obtained a court-issued arrest warrant for Mr. Cornelis on fraud charges dated July 9, 2024.
Tourist Police investigators received intelligence from informants that the wanted individual was residing in the Pa Khlok area of Thalang District, Phuket. Officers conducted surveillance and identified a foreign national matching the arrest warrant description.
The arrest was made on June 17, 2025, and the suspect was subsequently transferred to Phuket Provincial Court for legal proceedings.
This arrest demonstrates the effectiveness of the National Police Office’s coordinated crime suppression campaign and the Tourist Police’s commitment to maintaining law and order in Thailand’s key tourism destinations.
Cargo pickup trucks queue at the Khlong Yai checkpoint in Trat Province waiting to cross to Koh Kong, but Cambodia has strictly banned all fruit and agricultural products from entering on June 17, 2025.
CHANTHABURI — Cambodia has begun banning Thai fruit and vegetables, affecting both workers and farmers.
The situation at the Ban Laem permanent border checkpoint in Thep Nimit sub-district, Pong Nam Ron district, Chanthaburi province, has been tense for several days after the Cambodian government imposed a ban on the import of Thai fruit and vegetables last weekend.
While the Thai authorities opened the gate of the checkpoint on time at 8:00 am, the main gate on the Cambodian side remained closed as usual, so that only the smaller gate could be used by Cambodian workers for entry and exit.
Many Cambodian labourers employed in the Thai agricultural sector stood in long, thick queues in front of the bridge. Meanwhile, some workers, spurred by online rumours that their government might close the border and call them back, packed their belongings and large luggage to return home.
People transport goods to wait at Ban Laem permanent border checkpoint in Thep Nimit sub-district, Pong Nam Ron district, Chanthaburi province on June 17, 2025.
On the Cambodian side of the checkpoint, a Ministry of Labour van had set up a service booth for workers who wanted to return home or feared being deported by Thailand. However, Thai journalists observed that most of the workers did not register at the booth, but instead hurriedly loaded their belongings into the waiting family vehicles.
Chea Khit, a 23-year-old Cambodian worker who has been harvesting longan and other fruits in Thailand for about three years, said she earns about 500 baht per day, or over 1,000 baht on overtime. In comparison, her family in Cambodia farms rice, which generates income only once a year.
She admitted to feeling anxious and remorseful about the possible recall. “I want to continue working in Thailand because the income is better there,” she said, calling on both countries to restore normal border operations and allow workers to cross the border as before.
Pisith Rattawiset, a 37-year-old durian fruit farmer from Nakhon Si Thammarat province, said rumours circulating on Cambodian social media had worried his workers. Of the 30 he employs, more than 10 have already asked to return home.
This labour shortage has severely affected the operation of his nine mangosteen orchards, which are worth about 3 million baht, just as the fruit is ripening at the peak of the season. As a result, the mangosteen fruits are turning black and losing quality.
To make matters worse, the Cambodian ban on imports of Thai produce, especially from Chanthaburi, prevents him from exporting mangosteen. With nowhere to sell and liquidity dwindling, he called on both governments to urgently negotiate a solution, fearing that the situation, if it continues, could affect the entire agricultural economy.
Burapha Task Force patrols the Thai-Cambodia border in Aranyaprathet district after announcing that Thai people should refrain from crossing the border to Cambodia for safety reasons on June 17, 2025.
Meanwhile, Thai labourers attempting to enter Cambodia, especially those working in casinos or entertainment venues in Poipet, were warned by officials at the Aranyaprathet border crossing in Sa Kaeo province that they would not be allowed entry. Only those who had important business to conduct and had the appropriate papers were allowed to enter.
Pol. Col. Naphatphong Suphab, superintendent of the Immigration Department in Sa Kaeo, said the Immigration Department had received orders from the Burapha Task Force on Monday night to enforce this measure from 8:00am on 17 June. He also advised Thai nationals currently in Poipet to return to Thailand as soon as possible for their own safety and to protect their property.
Central Investigation Bureau officers arrest a transnational scammer network involving Australian, British, Canadian, and South African nationals at a residence in Samut Prakan Province on June 16, 2025.
BANGKOK — Thai Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) and Australian Federal Police (AFP) launched Operation Firestorm to dismantle a transnational scammer network involving Australian, British, Canadian, and South African nationals that had duped people out of at least 2 million Australian dollars (about $1.3 million).
Officials from both countries announced the arrest results at Central Investigation Bureau headquarters in Bangkok on June 17, led by Pol. Lt. Gen. Jiraphop Phuridech, CIB Commander, and Ms. Kristie-Lee Cressy, Senior Officer of the Australian Federal Police.
20-Year Criminal Operation
Pol. Lt. Gen. Jiraphop revealed that AFP investigators discovered a criminal group that had been defrauding Australian citizens for 20 years. While some members were recently arrested in Indonesia, the British and Australian gang leaders escaped to Thailand and established a “boiler room” call center operation.
The network’s call center lured Australian citizens into bond investments promising high returns of 7-10% annually over 1-3 years. When AFP discovered the operation, they requested CIB cooperation for a joint investigation.
Ms. Kristie stated that Australia has seen numerous victims in scam cases, with damages exceeding 4.45 billion Australian dollars over the past four years. Money laundering was conducted through cryptocurrency channels.
“Money that we say was stolen from hard-working Australians and not invested as promised. Shutting down this scam center is a significant win for the communities of Thailand and Australia,” she said.
Surveillance and Raid
Investigations revealed gang members had been in Pattaya since early 2024 before relocating to Bangkok, with key figures meeting at a hotel on Chalem Phrakiat Rama 9 Road in Dok Mai, Prawet District.
Officers tracked the group to a residence in Moo 9, Bang Phli Yai Subdistrict, Bang Phli District, Samut Prakan Province. The house was listed for sale at 70 million baht or rental at 120,000 baht monthly, with lease terms until January 2026.
The one-rai (1,600 square-meter) property featured tight perimeter fencing, a dead-end location, CCTV cameras, and a covered garage with canvas screens that were opened and closed when vehicles entered or exited.
Surveillance showed four vehicles regularly entering around 5:00 a.m. and leaving around 3:30 p.m., matching Sydney business hours (9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.). The secretive behavior included covering vehicles when entering the garage to conceal occupants.
Pol. Lt. Gen. Jiraphop Phuridech, CIB Commander, and Ms. Kristie-Lee Cressy, Senior Officer of the Australian Federal Police hold a press conference to announce the arrest of members of a transnational scammer network, at the CIB office on June 17, 2025.
Computer Data Reveals Victims
Armed with a court search warrant, officers raided the residence on June 16 at approximately 8:30 a.m. They found foreign nationals seated in the ground floor hall, which had been converted into an office-like space with partitions, while suspects were actively making phone calls.
Each workstation contained computers, laptops, mobile phones, documents, conversation scripts, and materials about companies and bonds used to solicit investments, claiming legitimate overseas operations.
Computer data revealed over 14,000 Australian names currently being verified by AFP, with some confirmed as actual fraud victims. Preliminary investigations show damages exceeding 2 million Australian dollars (1.3 million USD or approximately 40 million baht).
British and Australian Ring Leaders
Immigration records showed none of the suspects had work permits in Thailand. When questioned, all admitted to lacking proper work authorization and could not produce valid documentation.
Central Investigation Bureau officers arrest a transnational scammer network involving Australian, British, Canadian, and South African nationals at a residence in Samut Prakan Province on June 16, 2025.
Operation Firestorm resulted in 13 foreign national arrests: 5 Australians, 6 British, 1 Canadian, and 1 South African. Key figures identified include Mr. Mark, 54, Australian national, and Mr. Mark Andrew, 56, British national, whom AFP identified as operation leaders.
Authorities seized 58 items of electronic equipment and documents, including computers, network equipment, laptops, investment solicitation scripts, and mobile phones. All suspects face charges for criminal conspiracy and illegal employment as temporary residents without proper authorization.
Defendants initially denied wrongdoing, claiming friends recruited them for regular work found through job websites offering 3,000 Australian dollars salary plus 2.5% commission for calling customers to solicit company investments from provided contact lists.
Pol. Col. Ploen Klinphayom, Deputy Commander of Immigration Division 3, confirmed all 13 suspects entered Thailand on various visas without overstaying. Following legal proceedings, their visas will be revoked and they will be permanently blacklisted from re-entering Thailand.
Police apprehend the German suspect with 2.61 grams of cocaine and some of the buy money as evidence in Central Pattaya on June 16, 2025.
PATTAYA — A 42-year-old German man who operated a beer bar and sports club in Pattaya for over four years has been arrested for using his business as a front for cocaine trafficking while carrying illegal firearms.
Following extensive surveillance of Maik, the German suspect, Pattaya Police collaborated with narcotics officers to conduct an undercover drug purchase operation. They arranged to buy 2 grams of cocaine for 5,000 baht (approximately $154) at the Xcite shopping center parking lot in Central Pattaya, Chonburi province.
At the scheduled meeting time, Maik posed as a tourist and sat inside a popular fried chicken restaurant before negotiating with undercover agents. When the transaction was completed and officers moved to arrest him, Maik quickly fled the restaurant on a motorcycle toward a beer bar in Soi Buakhao.
Police immediately pursued and apprehended him with 2.61 grams of cocaine and some of the buy money as evidence.
Police apprehend the German suspect with 2.61 grams of cocaine and some of the buy money as evidence in Central Pattaya on June 16, 2025.
During a subsequent search of his residence in Central Pattaya, authorities discovered an additional 424 grams of cocaine and a .380 caliber pistol with ammunition. The total value of seized evidence was nearly 500,000 baht (approximately $15,400).
In preliminary questioning, Maik claimed a fellow German national supplied him with cocaine at 2,500-3,000 baht per gram, delivering up to 1 kilogram at a time. He allegedly distributed the drugs among foreign nationals in the Pattaya area before splitting the profits.
However, authorities remain skeptical of his testimony and are expanding their investigation to arrest accomplices, suspecting this may be part of a larger drug trafficking network operating in Thailand’s key tourist areas.
