Thai police have arrested six Nigerian men accused of running an artificial intelligence-powered romance scam targeting victims from a luxury condominium in Nonthaburi, near Bangkok.
Authorities said the arrests were carried out on Thursday, 22 May 2026, during coordinated raids on three apartment units along the Chao Phraya River area near Phra Nangklao Bridge.
Police said the suspects were allegedly living in groups inside the apartments and using fake identities, AI-generated images, and staged video calls to deceive victims, mostly older Thai women.
A Thai police spokesperson said the operation followed a wider investigation that initially began in April after officers arrested a Nigerian man identified as Patrick and three others in connection with cocaine trafficking.
“We started linking financial transactions from the drug case to other foreign nationals living in the condominium complex,” the police spokesperson said.
Investigators said the breakthrough led them to suspect a wider criminal network operating from the upscale residential area.
According to police, none of the suspects were enrolled in any educational institution or formally employed in Thailand, despite entering the country on student visas.
“We discovered that the individuals were not attending school and had no legitimate source of income,” an investigator said.
During the raid, officers reportedly forced entry into the apartments after occupants refused to open their doors. One suspect allegedly attempted to escape by climbing a balcony, while another was found hiding inside a bathroom.
Police said they recovered 18 mobile phones, three laptops, and several bank passbooks believed to have been used in financial transactions linked to the alleged scam.
Investigators added that some devices were still active with ongoing conversations involving potential victims at the time of the raid.
“They were actively communicating with victims even as the operation was underway,” a police source said.
Authorities alleged that the group impersonated professionals such as pilots, doctors, engineers, and US military personnel to build romantic relationships online before requesting money under false pretences, including claims of packages held at customs.
Police also said they found AI-generated images of Western individuals and prepared scripts used to manipulate victims into sending funds.
“All evidence points to a coordinated online fraud operation using advanced digital tools,” a senior investigator said.
The six suspects are currently facing preliminary charges, including illegal association and immigration offences, while further charges related to fraud and cybercrime are expected as investigations continue.
