Frenchman wanted for drugs and money laundering arrested in Phuket
A Frenchman wanted for more than 30 offences in his home country was arrested in Phuket yesterday, April 9, after fleeing to Thailand to avoid prosecution. Royal Thai Police instructed Phuket Provincial Immigration…
A French national wanted for more than 30 offences related to drug trafficking and money laundering was arrested in Phuket on April 9, authorities confirmed. Phuket Provincial Immigration officers, acting on instructions from the Royal Thai Police, apprehended 50-year-old Ani at a hotel in Karon subdistrict after he entered Thailand on a tourist visa.
Suspect’s Criminal Background and Arrest
French police had issued a request for Ani’s arrest, citing his involvement in smuggling a large quantity of cocaine from Dubai to Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport. Investigators identified him as a senior figure within a transnational crime syndicate, responsible for planning and directing illegal operations.
Phuket immigration officials found that Ani’s visa and permission to stay in Thailand were still valid at the time of his arrest. Officers located him at the hotel’s reception counter and revoked his visa before initiating arrangements for his return to France to face legal proceedings.
Recent Crackdowns on Foreign Fugitives in Thailand
Ani’s arrest follows a series of operations targeting foreign fugitives in Thailand. The Central Investigation Bureau recently detained a Chinese-born man with Saint Kitts and Nevis nationality in Pattaya, after the Chinese Embassy reported his involvement in operating 239 gambling websites.
Authorities said the gambling network targeted Chinese customers and processed over 13 billion baht. The suspect allegedly used a foreign passport to avoid detection and was traced from a Bangkok condominium to a pool villa in Pattaya, where he was taken into custody.
Source: https://thethaiger.com/news/phuket/wanted-frenchman-arrested-in-phuket-hotel
