Thai authorities have arrested three women accused of collaborating with a Nigerian-led romance scam network that allegedly defrauded victims of more than six billion baht (approximately $165 million).
According to a report by the Bangkok Post on Monday, the suspects identified only as Jutharat, Janjira, and Jiraphan were apprehended on Sunday in coordinated raids across Chachoengsao, Nonthaburi, and Yala provinces.
Police said the trio face charges of involvement in transnational organised crime and money laundering. The operation was spearheaded by Pol Maj Gen Pattanasak Bupphasuwan, commander of the Consumer Protection Police Division (CPPD).
Authorities allege that the group had been operating since 2019, using fake online identities and fabricated romantic relationships to lure Thai victims into sending large sums of money through digital banking platforms.
Investigators revealed that the arrested women acted as local facilitators, recruiting individuals to open mule bank accounts used to receive funds from unsuspecting victims. They reportedly made withdrawals and received commissions ranging from 2% to 10% on each transaction.
The suspects, however, have denied all allegations, insisting they had no knowledge of the illicit operations.
Police say the investigation is ongoing, with efforts underway to trace the Nigerian masterminds believed to be operating the scam from within and outside Thailand.
The arrests mark the latest in a series of crackdowns on romance scams and cyber fraud rings across Southeast Asia, as authorities step up cooperation to combat cross-border financial crimes.
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