Corrupt Officials Caught Selling Thai ID Cards To Foreign Criminals In Chiang Rai

CHIANG RAI – On June 18, police launched a major raid in the northern province of Chiang Rai, targeting a massive fake identity card network operating in Wiang Kaen district. This criminal group gave illegal identity cards to foreign nationals from China and Myanmar.

The operation was named “Sweeping Gray G IDs” to highlight the focus on student profiles. Top police leaders ordered the raid alongside other major national government agencies. They aimed to stop corrupt officials from wrongly listing foreign criminals as local students.

Key Takeaways

Police arrested a former Wiang Kaen district chief and two volunteers for selling fake IDs.
Foreign criminals paid 100,000 Baht each to get official identity cards meant for stateless students.
Authorities found over 200 fake profiles directly tied to call centers and drug networks.

During this massive crackdown, the police court officially approved 27 arrest warrants. In total, they charged 22 suspects who were actively involved in the scam. These suspects included a former district chief and two local defense volunteers from Wiang Kaen.

The remaining 19 suspects were foreigners who illegally bought the fake identities. The joint task force quickly searched six different locations to find solid evidence. They raided the homes of the former district chief and the two defense volunteers.

Furthermore, officers inspected a local learning center in the Wiang Kaen district. This educational center was a key location for processing the fake student identity cards. You can read about similar ongoing crackdowns on the Khaosod English news portal.

The joint police force worked closely with the Department of Special Investigation. They also partnered with national anti-corruption agencies to ensure strict legal action. They want to guarantee that no corrupt official escapes justice in this major case.

Routine Checkpoint Exposed the Crime

This massive investigation started with a very simple and routine police stop. In November 2025, border police set up a regular roadside security checkpoint. They stopped a foreign man sneaking across the natural border into Thailand.

The alert officers searched the man and quickly found 140,000 Baht in cash. The man then confessed his illegal plan directly to the arresting police officers. He said the cash was specifically for buying a special Thai identity card.

This special identity card is usually given to people with no official registration status. This shocking clue made the local police officers very suspicious of the system. They quickly started looking closely at the local district registration records.

Investigators soon found a highly corrupt system hidden in the Wiang Kaen district. Local officials were using a special ‘G’ code meant only for young students. They used this educational code to give fake rights to four foreign adults.

National Security at Risk from Fake IDs

The police then decided to dig much deeper into the entire registration system. They quickly discovered a very well-planned criminal network operating behind the scenes. The deeper investigation revealed many shocking facts about the buyers of these fake IDs.

The illegal buyers of these fake identities came from several different countries. They included many people from China, Myanmar, Laos, and neighboring Vietnam. Police strongly believe these wealthy buyers belong to very dangerous organized groups.

These foreign groups are closely linked to scam call centers and illegal drug rings. Getting a fake Thai identity card is very helpful for these specific criminals. Once they have the official card, they can live just like normal citizens.

They can travel freely across the country and easily open local bank accounts. This access makes it extremely easy to handle and hide their dirty money. They can easily buy expensive property and completely hide their ongoing crimes.

In the future, these criminals might even get full Thai citizenship using these fake cards. This situation poses a massive threat to the country’s overall national security and safety. Check out The Nation Thailand for daily updates on regional national security issues.

The Secret Broker and The Heavy Cost

Some arrested suspects shared helpful details about the secret criminal identity network. They said foreign workers used heavily hidden online chat groups to communicate. In these private groups, people openly advertised the fake identity card services.

They falsely promised an official identity card starting with the number zero. This specific starting number is usually reserved for real stateless people in Thailand. The main crime broker was a 50-year-old man originally from Myanmar.

His known name is Tun Lin, and he lived in the border town of Tachileik. Tun Lin charged exactly 100,000 Baht for every single fake identity card. He made sure the bribe money safely reached the corrupt Thai government officials.

Police carefully checked the official district records from the year 2024 to 2025. They found extreme warning signs hidden in the Wiang Kaen area registration data. They clearly saw that over 200 fake student identities were officially created.

These massive numbers clearly showed a huge, illegal business operation running locally. The Thai National Police promise that they will not simply stop their work here. They actively plan to work very closely with the official Ministry of Interior.

They strongly want to involve all local community groups in this important fight. Their ultimate goal is to completely crush this entire criminal identity network. They truly want to find every single person involved in this major crime.

No corrupt official will be allowed to safely hide from the police force. Every person who helped make fake identity cards will face very harsh laws. The police strongly promise to bring everyone to court to face real justice.