Thai police dismantle Russian online fraud network in Phuket

Thai police conducted coordinated raids at three locations on Phuket Island, targeting a Russian-operated network that laundered money from online scams through cash‑withdrawal accounts. Police arrested 26‑year‑old Ilia Kutaisov on a warrant and detained another Russian, Egor Stelmakh, while seizing about 5.44 million baht in cash and 6,271 USD. The operation recovered roughly 4.8 million baht at one site and uncovered evidence of systematic ATM withdrawals from April to June that obscured the source of fraud proceeds.

Authorities said the crackdown is part of a nationwide effort to combat transnational online‑crime gangs, and investigations will continue to trace further financial transactions and identify additional members of the network.