Worasit Liangprasit, Deputy Minister of the Interior, commented on the “Clean Up the City” operation, which involved a raid on a flat in Din Daeng district suspected of being used to fraudulently register foreign nationals in the Thai household registration system.
He said seven arrest warrants had been issued in Din Daeng after authorities uncovered irregularities involving the transfer of foreign nationals’ names into the household registration system to obtain “No. 7” alien registration numbers.
The irregularities were uncovered through investigations conducted by the Department of Provincial Administration (DOPA) and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) in 2024, which subsequently led to the issuance of the arrest warrants.
Asked how such irregularities could have occurred, Worasit acknowledged that some officials may have been involved, either through negligence or corruption. He pointed out that it would be highly improbable for 60 people to legitimately reside in a 30-square-meter apartment, prompting authorities to take action.
Regarding whether the arrest warrants could implicate additional officials, Worasit said the seven suspects could include brokers, landlords, and government officials, while police are continuing to investigate the case.
On the possibility of official negligence and whether similar investigations would be conducted in other areas, Worasit said legal proceedings were already underway. Within the BMA, officials suspected of involvement have been suspended from duty pending a serious disciplinary investigation, which is being conducted in parallel with the police investigation. If further irregularities are uncovered, the findings will be reported to the relevant superiors.
Worasit also confirmed that authorities would coordinate with the BMA to investigate other districts, following claims by brokers that similar practices may be occurring across Bangkok.
He said the operation on August 18 initially focused on Din Daeng, but the investigation is expected to expand to other areas. Information gathered so far indicates that household registration records at the Din Daeng flats list approximately 1,000 foreign children as residents. However, authorities have found that many of these individuals already have existing names in the registration system, which may subsequently be used to obtain fraudulent identification cards.
A comprehensive review of household registration records is now underway. The BMA is prepared to cooperate with other agencies, including the Royal Thai Police, Department of Special Investigation (DSI), Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO), and relevant anti-corruption authorities, to investigate suspected irregularities and expand the operation to other areas.
Worasit stressed that registration fraud extends beyond the issuance of fraudulent identification cards. Authorities are also investigating cases involving false birth registrations and the reported death of a foster father, with further information expected to emerge as the investigation progresses.
He further emphasized that obtaining a No. 7 alien registration number can serve as an important step toward eventually applying for Thai citizenship, making the issue a matter of national security.
“Going forward, we must not make it easier for them to travel and live more conveniently than they are entitled to,” Worasit said, stressing that individuals holding such registration status do not enjoy the same rights as Thai citizens.
He added, however, that the key concern is that fraudulent registration could ultimately facilitate access to Thai citizenship, underscoring the need for stricter scrutiny of the household registration system.
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