BANGKOK — Thai Immigration Police have arrested suspects involved in two distinct fraud cases, both linked to African nationals, according to Police Major General Phantana Nuchanat, Deputy Commissioner of the Immigration Bureau.
In the first case, a 53-year-old Cameroonian man, identified as Mr. Tenkeu, was apprehended for orchestrating a fraudulent U.S. dollar selling scheme. The suspect allegedly advertised genuine $100 bills for sale at just $20 each through an online platform. He required potential buyers to make a 20% deposit before disappearing with the funds.
A sting operation, carried out by Immigration Police Division 1, arranged to buy $500,000 worth of U.S. dollars for $100,000. During the operation, an undercover officer insisted on seeing the currency before making the payment, leading to a meeting at a hotel in Soi Ramkhamhaeng 22, Bangkok, where Tenkeu was arrested.
During questioning, Mr. Tenkeu confessed that he planned to deceive the buyer by presenting a few authentic bills as samples before vanishing with the 700,000 baht transfer. Thai authorities revoked his permission to stay in the country, blacklisted him from future entry, and are set to deport him back to Cameroon.
In a separate case, authorities have arrested the alleged ringleader of an African gold scam. Victims reported being defrauded of 1.1 million baht by three African nationals who swapped legitimate currency with counterfeit U.S. dollars as part of a gold trading scheme.
Initially, police arrested two suspects: Jason (alias Kanu), a Sierra Leone national, and Cisse, a Liberian national. Both had their visas revoked before being transferred to the Immigration Detention Center.
In a new development in 2025, investigators identified and apprehended the third suspect, known only as Kevin during the investigation. The suspect, now identified as Bobby, a 30-year-old Liberian national, was arrested in Chonburi province. Bobby allegedly played a significant role in the scam by arranging meetings, escorting victims to gold smelting facilities, and facilitating the currency switch.
Victims confirmed Bobby as the third fraudster involved in the operation. He has been transferred to Lumpini Police Station for further legal action.
