Three Nigerians and Thai Woman Arrested in Pattaya Over Alleged Romance Scam Network

On 28 April 2024, Thai police detained three Nigerian nationals—Miracle Qluebube Duruawuzie, John Bosco Chukwukadibia, and Chibueze Solomon Ozoma—and a 41-year-old Thai woman identified as Patcharin at a hotel in Nong Prue, Bang Lamung, Chon Buri. Authorities allege the quartet operated a romance-scam ring that used mule bank accounts to receive victim funds before routing the money to intermediaries and senior figures in Nigeria. The suspects face charges under Thailand’s Technology Crime Prevention and Suppression Act, the 2023 Emergency Decree, and the Criminal Code.

The arrests occurred amid a broader Thai government effort to dismantle “romance crime” operations that have proliferated across tourist hubs. Earlier in the month, police announced the seizure of assets worth over 2.5 million baht from a separate network run by a Nigerian national and five Thai accomplices, which had swindled victims of more than 114 million baht. A week prior, a Nigerian man known only as Patrick was apprehended for alleged cocaine smuggling, underscoring heightened scrutiny of foreign-linked criminal activity in Thailand.

• Miracle Qluebube Duruawuzie – Nigerian national, alleged organizer of account-mule operations.

• John Bosco Chukwukadibia – Nigerian national, identified as a core participant in fund transfers.

• Chibueze Solomon Ozoma – Nigerian national, described by Patcharin as her husband and primary liaison.

• Patcharin – Thai woman, confessed to supplying bank account details and handling daily withdrawals for the group.

• Seized items: 12 mobile phones and 12 bank passbooks.

• Compensation claimed by Patcharin: 2,000 baht per account plus a 10 % commission on daily ATM withdrawals; she reported a peak earnings of 30,000 baht in a single day.

• Prior unrelated seizure: 0.87 gram of cocaine valued at $74,800 and 2.4 million baht in hidden cash.

• Assets seized from a related romance-scam network: over 2.5 million baht.

Tourist Police and Provincial Police Region 2 investigators said the operation demonstrated “high sophistication” and that the seized devices and passbooks “highlight the group’s organized structure.” Police filed charges for arranging the sale, rental, or lending of bank accounts and electronic money accounts for technology crimes, as well as for involvement in a secret society under Section 209 of the Criminal Code. Authorities announced that the investigation will be expanded to locate additional participants and trace the financial flows to overseas recipients.

Social-media commentator @officialking.carlos argued that “the wider Nigerian population was being unfairly targeted based on the dubious acts of some,” contending that crimes by citizens of other nationalities receive less media attention.

Sources differ on the connection between the recent romance-scam arrests and the earlier cocaine-smuggling case involving a Nigerian man named Patrick; no official link has been confirmed. Additionally, the exact number of senior figures in Nigeria receiving laundered funds remains unspecified, and the total monetary value of the alleged scam has not been disclosed.

• “Police arrested a Thai woman and three Nigerian men yesterday, April 28, over alleged links to a Pattaya romance scam operation using mule bank accounts to receive money from victims.” — Tourist Police statement

• “She said she was paid 2,000 baht for each bank account and received a further 10% commission for withdrawing and transferring money for the group daily, claiming the highest amount was 30,000 baht a day.” — Patcharin, suspect

• “Tourist police investigators in Pattaya and regional investigators from Provincial Police Region 2 seized 12 mobile phones and 12 bank passbooks from the property.” — Investigation report

• “carlos argued that the wider Nigerian population was being unfairly targeted based on the dubious acts of some, arguing that there were news of citizens from other countries committing crimes, but not gaining traction.” — @officialking.carlos, social-media comment

Thai authorities plan to trace the remaining financial trails, identify additional mule operators, and prosecute the suspects in Bang Lamung Police Station. Ongoing cooperation with international law-enforcement agencies is expected to uncover senior recipients in Nigeria and to dismantle any extended network linked to the romance-scam scheme.