DSI expanded "Operation Black Horse Down," arresting a key figure in a Nigerian gang network involved in nationwide mule account procurement and defrauding victims with damages exceeding 50 million baht

DSI expanded "Operation Black Horse Down," arresting a key figure in a Nigerian gang network involved in nationwide mule account procurement and defrauding victims with damages exceeding 50 million baht

The Department of Special Investigation's (DSI) Foreign Affairs and Transnational Crime Bureau launched "Operation Black Horse Down" under special case no. 95/2566 regarding the case of a network of Thai and Nigerian nationals involved in defrauding victims through romance scams and recruiting individuals from across the country to open mule accounts for various criminal groups, with links to call center gangs, romance scams, and narcotics cartels. The operation uncovered over 1.2 billion baht in circulation linked to over 1,000 mule accounts. The perpetrators also transferred money from these accounts to their domestic and international networks. The Criminal Court subsequently issued arrest warrants for eight suspects. On October 8, 2024, DSI officers, in collaboration with the Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) and the Central Institute of Forensic Science, joined forces to conduct searches at five locations, arresting 6 suspects comprising both Nigerian and Thai nationals.

On Wednesday, November 13, 2024, officers from the Surveillance and Intelligence Division, along with a team of special case inquiry officials from the Foreign Affairs and Transnational Crime Bureau, expanded the investigation and discovered that Mr. Christian (surname withheld), a Nigerian national and key culprit in the network, had been detained by Division 3 of the Investigation Division, Immigration Bureau, under the Immigration Act. DSI officers subsequently detained and arrested Mr. Christian, who was under Criminal Court arrest warrant no. 4616/2567 for jointly defrauding by impersonating other persons, fraudulently or deceptively entering wholly or partially distorted or false computer data into a computer system, money laundering, and conspiracy to launder money. Special case inquiry officials inquired Mr. Christian and expanded the investigation to pursue other conspirators, reportedly including both Thai and foreign nationals. The DSI will collaborate with AMLO to investigate financial flows and seize assets connected to the criminal group.

The DSI warns the public that opening mule accounts to assist criminal activities constitutes an offense under the Emergency Decree on Measures for the Prevention and Suppression of Technological Crimes, B.E. 2566 (2023). This offense carries a penalty of imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years or a fine not exceeding 300,000 baht, or both. This is a serious matter that is frequently reported in the media, so claiming unaware of such reports is not a valid defense. However, if the public wishes to file a complaint, report offenses, or provide information related to these crimes, they can visit the DSI website at www.dsi.go.th by accessing the "Complaints & Clues Submission" section. Special case inquiry officials will then gather evidence and proceed with legal actions accordingly.