Bangkok:The Immigration Bureau has successfully dismantled a network known as “Thai Thip’s Father,” which was exploiting citizenship laws by using DNA evidence to help foreign children obtain Thai citizenship. This illicit operation offered services for a nominal fee of 2,000 baht, while brokers reportedly pocketed up to 50,000 baht.
According to Thai News Agency, Police Major General Thanit Thaiwatcharamas, Deputy Commissioner of the Immigration Bureau, announced the arrest of two key suspects involved in this fraudulent activity. Mr. Wachirawut, acting as a surrogate father, and Ms. Orasa, acting as a false witness, were apprehended. The authorities conducted large-scale searches at three locations in Bangkok and Samut Sakhon, uncovering crucial evidence such as falsified blood ties documents and DNA test results.
The investigation revealed that Mr. Wachirawut had been filing false birth registrations for foreign children in Nakhon Ratchasima Province since 2021. Two cases were identified one involving a child with a Chinese father and Myanmar mother, and another involving Vietnamese parents who had previously hired a surrogate Thai father for another child.
Mr. Wachirawut’s scheme involved using the DNA certificates of his biological children to register foreign children as Thai, thereby obtaining Thai citizenship for them illegally. He confessed to receiving only 2,000 baht per child for his role, while brokers demanded up to 50,000 baht from the children’s parents. An additional 20,000 baht was required for obtaining a national identity card or passport.
Authorities are intensifying their efforts to prosecute all involved parties. Legal proceedings are underway against the foreign children’s actual parents, with Prathai Police Station preparing to charge them. Government officials implicated in related offenses have been previously prosecuted and dismissed. Investigations continue to identify and bring to justice the broker group, consisting of both Thai and foreign individuals.