Thai police have arrested six Nigerian nationals over their alleged involvement in an artificial intelligence-driven romance scam operation uncovered in Nonthaburi, near Bangkok.
The suspects were apprehended on 22 May 2026 following a raid on three luxury condominium units located near the Phra Nangklao Bridge in Nonthaburi.
Authorities disclosed that the arrests stemmed from an earlier cocaine trafficking investigation in April, during which suspicious financial transactions were traced to the group’s riverside residence.
According to police reports, officers forced entry into the apartments after the suspects refused to open their doors. One individual reportedly attempted to escape via a balcony, while another hid in a bathroom and alerted accomplices through text messages.
Items recovered from the scene included 18 mobile phones, three laptops, and several bank-related documents. Some of the seized devices were said to be actively engaged in scam conversations at the time of the raid.
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Investigators allege that the group deployed AI-generated images and conducted fake video calls using fabricated Western identities, posing as professionals such as pilots, United States military personnel, doctors, and engineers.
Their primary targets were older Thai women, whom they allegedly lured into fraudulent relationships before requesting money under the guise of customs clearance and other fabricated fees.
Police further revealed that the suspects had been residing in Thailand on student visas but were neither enrolled in any educational institution nor engaged in legitimate employment.
The six individuals are currently facing charges related to immigration violations and unlawful association, while additional fraud-related charges are expected to be filed as investigations continue.
