Thai police bust Korean scam gang, rescue kidnap victim

Thai authorities have successfully dismantled a scam operation in Bang Lamung district, Chon Buri province, leading to the arrest of 20 South Korean nationals and one Chinese national. The arrests took place on June 21 at a luxurious pool villa, following a tip-off from the South Korean embassy.

Upon raiding the villa, officers from the Tourist Police, Immigration Bureau, and Bang Lamung police discovered a group of men working at computers. Some attempted to flee during the raid, resulting in one injury, but all were apprehended.

Investigators found a whiteboard detailing investment schemes in Korean, leading them to believe the villa was a hub for a larger criminal network. This network is suspected of engaging in "romance scams," where victims are deceived into fake relationships and then persuaded to transfer money.

Colonel Songwut Chueaplakij, superintendent of Tourist Police Division 2, stated that all confiscated items would be analyzed to confirm their use in illegal activities. The suspects are now facing legal proceedings under Thai law. It was also reported that a South Korean man who had allegedly been kidnapped and forced to work for the scam gang was rescued during the operation.