French Fugitive Linked to Drug Trafficking Arrested in Phuket

A French national wanted in connection with dozens of criminal offences has been detained in Phuket after attempting to evade justice by fleeing abroad.

Thai authorities, acting on a request from French law enforcement, instructed Phuket immigration officers to track down the suspect, a 50-year-old man identified as Ani. He is accused of involvement in more than 30 crimes, primarily related to drug trafficking and money laundering.

According to investigators, the man left France after being caught smuggling a significant quantity of cocaine from Dubai through Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport. Authorities also believe he played a key role in an international criminal network, where he was responsible for coordinating and overseeing illicit operations.

Immigration records showed that Ani had entered Thailand on a tourist visa, which was still valid at the time of his arrest. Officers later located him at a hotel in Karon, Phuket, where he was apprehended during a police operation at the reception area.

Following his arrest, Thai authorities revoked his visa and residency permission. Preparations are now underway to deport him to France, where he will face legal proceedings.

The case comes amid a broader effort by Thai law enforcement to target foreign fugitives hiding in the country. In a separate operation, the Central Investigation Bureau recently detained a Chinese-born individual holding Saint Kitts and Nevis citizenship at a luxury pool villa in Pattaya.

The arrest was carried out after a request from the Chinese Embassy, which linked the suspect to the operation of 239 illegal gambling websites. These platforms reportedly targeted Chinese users and processed transactions exceeding 13 billion baht. Authorities also suspect the man had connections to notorious gambling figure She Zhijiang, associated with illegal activities in Shwe Kokko, Myanmar.

Investigators revealed that the suspect used a foreign passport to conceal his identity after entering Thailand. He was tracked from a high-end condominium in Bangkok to his Pattaya residence, where officers ultimately carried out the arrest.