Thai authorities have arrested three women allegedly linked to an international romance scam syndicate reportedly operated by a group of Nigerians, which defrauded victims of more than six billion baht (about ₦212 billion).
According to the Bangkok Post, the suspects — identified only as Jutharat, Janjira, and Jiraphan — were arrested on Sunday during coordinated raids in Chachoengsao, Nonthaburi, and Yala provinces.
Police said the women face charges bordering on transnational crime and money laundering.
The operation was led by Pol Maj Gen Pattanasak Bupphasuwan, Commander of the Consumer Protection Police Division (CPPD), who confirmed that the arrests followed a long-running investigation into the syndicate believed to have been active since 2019.
Investigators alleged that the group created fake online identities to lure victims into fraudulent romantic relationships, persuading them to transfer large sums of money through digital platforms.
The arrested women were reportedly responsible for recruiting people to open mule bank accounts used to receive and transfer the proceeds of the scam.
They allegedly withdrew the funds and received commissions ranging from 2 to 10 percent on each transaction.
The suspects have denied any wrongdoing, even as police vowed to expand the investigation to track other members of the network, including their foreign collaborators.
Authorities said the case underscores Thailand’s growing concern over cross-border cyber fraud, which has seen several arrests of suspects linked to criminal groups operating from other countries.