On July 10, authorities in Thailand announced the apprehension of a Russian man, identified as Artem, aged 44, who is suspected of orchestrating a sophisticated operation that forged and sold counterfeit passports from 15 different nationalities, including the United States. This illicit activity has reportedly caused damages exceeding 30 million baht, approximately 825,000 dollars.
The arrest was executed by officials from the Immigration Bureau following an arrest warrant issued by the South Bangkok Criminal Court on June 26, 2024. Major General Panthana Nuchanart, Deputy Commissioner of the Immigration Bureau, confirmed that Artem was taken into custody in a condominium located on Narathiwat Ratchanakarin Road in Bangkok. He faces serious charges, including the production, sale, and importation of counterfeit passports.
An investigation by the Immigration Bureau revealed that Artem led a transnational criminal organization specializing in the fabrication of fake passports. Authorities discovered that this network actively marketed their services on social media platforms like VK, Telegram, and WhatsApp, falsely promoting a legitimate citizenship application process. Payments were reportedly made through digital currency accounts, and to bolster their credibility, the group established a company in Thailand.
The operation’s effectiveness was highlighted by the discovery of suspicious U.S. passport images, which, upon detailed examination, were confirmed to be counterfeit by the Overseas Criminal Investigations Unit in Thailand. Many victims of this scheme were found to have been misled; some did not receive any passports at all, while others received forged documents sent via FedEx from the Dominican Republic.
Collaboration with the U.S. Transnational Crime Investigation Unit led to further insights into the structure of the network, revealing a division of labor among operatives. Individuals in the Dominican Republic managed the production of passports, communicated with victims, and handled financial transactions.
As the investigation continues, authorities are working to assess the full scope of this operation and the number of victims involved. The arrest of Artem marks a significant step in combatting international passport forgery and related crimes.
