Thai police have arrested six Nigerians suspected of links to an international cocaine trafficking network and an artificial intelligence-driven romance fraud scheme that targeted elderly women.

According to a Thursday report in the Bangkok Post, the arrests followed coordinated raids on three luxury condominium units near Phra Nang Klao Bridge in Nonthaburi Province. Officers from the Metropolitan Police Bureau said they met resistance as occupants refused to open doors and allegedly tried to destroy evidence before police forced entry.

During the operation, authorities seized 18 mobile phones, three laptops, and three bank passbooks. Police stated that some phones still held active chats believed to relate to drug deals.

Investigators said the case began in April after the arrest of a suspected syndicate leader, identified only as “Patrick,” and four associates. Assets worth about 2.5 million baht, roughly ₦103 million, were recovered then. Follow-up financial probes allegedly connected the six Nigerian suspects to the group.

Police allege the suspects entered Thailand on student visas but resided in high-end riverside apartments without attending classes or holding lawful jobs. Officers also said they found evidence of an online scam where AI was used to create images of fake foreign men posing as wealthy pilots, doctors, and U.S. military officers.

Authorities claim the suspects used those identities to build online relationships with older Thai women, then told them expensive gifts had arrived but were held by customs. Victims were allegedly asked to send money to “release” the parcels. Scripts recovered during the raids reportedly contained messages designed to exploit loneliness and build trust.

The six suspects, aged 23 to 35, initially admitted to belonging to a criminal group and overstaying visas, police said. Additional charges for fraud and online scams may be filed as more victims are identified.

The case highlights growing global concerns about AI being used to enable online fraud and cross-border crime. Thai authorities have not released the identities of the six Nigerians.

Source: Punch news