French Interpol Suspect Arrested in Phuket Ahead of Deportation

A French national wanted under an Interpol Red Notice was detained in Phuket on March 12 following a request from the French Embassy.

The request, sent through the Foreign Affairs Division of the Royal Thai Police, called for cooperation in locating and arresting the suspect, revoking his permission to remain in Thailand, and arranging his deportation to France.

Authorities began investigating after receiving information that the man might be residing in Phuket. Their efforts led them to a house in the Rawai subdistrict of Mueang district, where they identified a person matching the suspect’s description.

Upon arrival, officers approached the man and conducted questioning. He was identified as 46-year-old Faisal, a French citizen. According to police, he confirmed both his identity and the existence of an arrest warrant issued in France, as well as his status on the Interpol Red Notice list.

The warrant is connected to an attempted murder case in France, reportedly involving a dispute during which a firearm was discharged and another person was injured.

Investigators believe the suspect fled France and later entered Thailand to avoid prosecution.

Following the arrest, authorities moved to revoke his stay under immigration laws that apply to foreign nationals wanted by other countries.

Records indicate that Faisal entered Thailand on January 23, 2026, under a visa exemption scheme, with permission to stay until March 23, 2026.

He was subsequently taken into custody at Phuket Immigration, where he was officially informed of the revocation of his stay and is now being held pending further legal action.

In a similar case, Thai authorities recently detained a Kazakh national also listed under an Interpol Red Notice. He had fled fraud charges in his home country and was later found hiding in Phuket. His permission to remain in Thailand was revoked, and officials coordinated with the Kazakh Embassy to facilitate his deportation.