August 4, 2026
In a joint operation on the morning of August 4, the Thai Ministry of Interior and the Royal Thai Police dismantled a corrupt network issuing illegal identity and population documents in Mae Sot, Tak Province, arresting 11 individuals.
The operation, dubbed “Jeset M.3 – Crackdown on Illegal 10-Year Cards,” uncovered that certain officials from the Mae Sot Municipal Registration Office had been illegally issuing “0-code” temporary identification cards (designated for stateless persons) to Myanmar nationals.
Officials revealed during a press briefing that the syndicate charged between 40,000 and 100,000 Baht per person.
Initial investigations identified 12 Myanmar nationals holding these illegal 10-year cards. Facial recognition and fingerprint cross-checks with the Immigration Bureau database confirmed they were active Myanmar passport holders.
Authorities have initiated legal proceedings against 17 individuals, securing 13 arrest warrants and 17 search warrants. Among the 11 suspects apprehended in today’s sweep were one registration assistant officer, one municipal employee, two registered house hosts acting as witnesses, and seven Myanmar nationals utilizing the fraudulent documents.
The primary orchestrator of the bribery scheme was identified as “Kit,” a former Mae Sot municipal registration assistant who was dismissed for corruption in 2025. According to press reports, his wife is also a suspect in a 2025 case involving the illegal smuggling and sale of arms to armed groups along the Myanmar border.
During today’s raids, authorities seized multiple items as evidence, including three passports, five “0-code” ID cards, four Thai house registration books, work permits, pink cards, Myanmar citizenship cards, border passes, mobile phones, a laptop, and a USB flash drive.
The Royal Thai Police suspect this case is linked to a broader network illegally registering foreign workers in the Mae Sot area and have vowed to continue suppressing cross-border criminal syndicates that threaten Thailand’s national security.
