Phetchaburi, Thailand
Thai immigration police have arrested a 33-year-old French national identified only as Mr. Dogan (a pseudonym), a high-profile fugitive sought by authorities in France, Turkey, and Interpol for his alleged role in a massive international pyramid scheme that defrauded victims of more than €200 million (approximately 7.5–8 billion baht).
The arrest was carried out on Friday afternoon, June 20th, 2026, by officers from the Immigration Bureau Region 3 (BKK. TM.3) under the command of Pol. Col. Suriya Phuengsombut, Superintendent of the Special Investigation Division. Acting on orders from Pol. Maj. Gen. Songprod Sirisuk, Commander of Immigration Region 3, a team led by Pol. Lt. Col. Ithithon Prasertsak and Pol. Lt. Col. Thongthai Pairor tracked the suspect to a luxury villa in Cha-am district, Phetchaburi province.
At approximately 3:00 p.m., officers approached the villa, requested to inspect the suspect’s passport, and confirmed his identity as the individual listed on international arrest warrants. He was taken into custody after authorities determined he was in violation of Section 12(7) of the Immigration Act B.E. 2522 (1979), leading to the immediate revocation of his permission to remain in the Kingdom.
The suspect is accused of masterminding a sophisticated cross-border investment fraud. In 2022, he and five accomplices allegedly established a company operating under the guise of “Digital Finance,” falsely claiming connections to major financial institutions in Dubai. They targeted Turkish communities living in France, Belgium, Switzerland, and New Zealand, persuading victims to invest sums ranging from €20,000 to €300,000. Investors were promised extraordinarily high returns, including 15% monthly profits, up to five times the principal within a year, and bonuses for recruiting new members.
The operation exhibited classic characteristics of a Ponzi scheme, in which returns to earlier investors were paid using funds from new victims rather than legitimate profits. More than 900 people from multiple countries are reported to have been defrauded.
Following the arrest, Thai immigration authorities stated they will proceed with deportation proceedings, returning the suspect to one of the countries that have formally requested his extradition so he can face justice.
For the original version of this article, please visit The Pattaya News.
