Authorities in Thailand have uncovered a scheme in which Chinese criminal groups allegedly recruit Thai men to enter into sham marriages with Chinese women, enabling their children—born to Chinese nationals—to obtain Thai citizenship, according to the Department of Provincial Administration.
The disclosure was made on Thursday, following the arrest of six suspects in Bangkok a day earlier. Among those detained was a district official from Thon Buri, accused of involvement in falsified civil registration records.
Officials noted that a similar operation had recently been exposed in Nakhon Ratchasima, with further cases expected to emerge.
In a statement posted on its official Facebook page, the department said the scheme first came to light after the arrest of a Chinese national, Chen Yon Lai, in April 2024.
He is suspected of laundering approximately 70 billion baht linked to call centre scam networks operating across the region.
Investigators found that funds were routed through multiple mule accounts before reaching a Chinese woman believed to be Chen’s wife. The woman had three children who were found to hold Thai nationality, raising suspicion among authorities.
Chen, 54, was apprehended at a high-end residence in Bangkok. At the time of his arrest, he held a five-year visa under the Thailand Privilege Card programme, administered by Thailand Privilege Card Co. under the supervision of the Tourism Authority of Thailand.
Further inquiries revealed that a Thai man had been paid to legally register a marriage with the woman, allowing her children to acquire Thai citizenship.
Authorities later discovered that similar arrangements had been made by other individuals within the same network.
So far, investigators have identified at least five cases involving fraudulent marriage registrations used to secure Thai nationality for Chinese children.
The department also indicated that certain private entities, in collaboration with corrupt officials, may have facilitated the scheme.
Under Thai law, citizenship grants individuals the right to own property, conduct business, and travel freely in and out of the country—privileges that authorities warn could be exploited for illicit purposes.
Officials cautioned that such arrangements could be used to support money laundering, enable nominee ownership of assets, and expand transnational criminal operations, posing a serious threat to national security and public order.
In addition to the Thon Buri official, police arrested two Chinese nationals and three Thai men on Wednesday, the latter believed to have participated in the fraudulent marriages. Authorities said efforts are ongoing to locate and prosecute others involved in the network.
