Police Investigate Additional Crimes of Thai Romance Scam Group... Pursuing Extradition

[Financial News] The police are conducting additional investigations into members of a romance scam (fraud under the guise of romance) criminal organization arrested last month in Pattaya, Thailand, and are pursuing their extradition to Korea.
The National Police Agency announced on the 21st that a joint investigation team was dispatched to Thailand on the 16th.
The 19 people arrested in a joint operation between Korean and Thai police were found to have committed organized fraud by creating crime scenarios such as romance scams and phone financial fraud, and distributing roles in Pattaya, Thailand. They were found to have set up crime bases by installing electronic devices such as computers in villa complexes.
The joint investigation team analyzed the electronic devices used in the crimes and investigated the suspects under the cooperation of the Thai government. In addition, they met with the head of the Thai fraud crime task force and discussed joint response measures to block international organized crime based in Southeast Asia.
Based on the collected evidence, the police are conducting investigations into additional crimes and accomplices and plan to quickly extradite all arrested members to Korea in consultation with Thai immigration authorities.
Previously, the police had been discussing measures to secure seized items and custody through the police resident officer in Thailand immediately after the arrests. Local investigations and intelligence gathering activities were also conducted in parallel, centered on police cooperation officers dispatched between the two countries. The police are actively utilizing the joint investigation team dispatch system to respond to transnational crimes, conducting joint operations with organizations such as the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) Secretariat.
Lee Jun-hyung, an international cooperation officer of the National Police Agency, said, "We will take the lead in eradicating international organized crime such as online fraud and electronic financial fraud by closely cooperating with overseas law enforcement agencies."
unsaid@fnnews.com Kang Myung-yeon Reporter