Two Russian Nationals Arrested in Phuket with 5.4 Million Baht Linked to Mule Accounts

Two Russian nationals have been arrested in Phuket after police seized more than 5.4 million baht during coordinated raids connected to an investigation into mule accounts allegedly used by call centre scam networks.

The operation took place on July 8 after the Anti-Cyber Scam Centre alerted officers from Provincial Police Region 8 and Phuket Provincial Police to suspicious banking activity. Investigators had identified Russian nationals repeatedly withdrawing large sums of cash from ATMs across the island.

According to police, financial institutions later confirmed that the money originated from mule accounts that had received transfers from victims of call centre fraud.

Investigators reviewed CCTV footage, analyzed banking records, and gathered additional evidence before obtaining search warrants for three locations in Phuket.

During a raid at a residence in Wichit, officers arrested 26-year-old Russian national Ilya. Police confiscated 638,700 baht in cash from the property.

At a second location, officers detained another Russian citizen, Egor. Authorities seized more than 4.8 million baht, including approximately 4.5 million baht in Thai currency and US dollars equivalent to around 206,000 baht.

A third search was carried out at a property in Choeng Thale, Thalang District. Although the individual sought by investigators was not found, officers collected evidence from the premises and said efforts to locate the suspect are continuing.

Police said the investigation is ongoing and will examine additional financial transactions to identify other mule accounts operating in Phuket, as well as the people believed to be coordinating the fraud network.

Authorities emphasized that anyone found to be involved in the scheme will face legal action regardless of nationality.

The arrests follow several similar cases involving Russian nationals in Thailand. Earlier this year, police detained a Russian man and a Thai woman in Pattaya over alleged links to mule accounts connected to call centre scams. In March, another Russian national was arrested in Chon Buri after allegedly making nearly 200 ATM withdrawals totaling 4.6 million baht, while in April police in Phuket arrested another Russian suspect accused of handling more than 1.2 million baht withdrawn from mule accounts.