At a press conference this morning (April 15), Mhoussin Mahamond, 22, and Ganzouai Zaidi, 29, both French citizens, along with, Tunisian Adjemi Ramzi, 31, were presented to the media, along with evidence seized by police.
This included a laptop computer with card reader, 70 ATM and credit cards with passwords written on them, and 6,000 Euros and B134,000 in cash.
Also on display was 7.5 grams of marijuana, allegedly found in Ramzi’s possession.
Tourist Police Investigator Pol Lt Nikom Teinhoa told The Phuket News that the arrests came after a tip-off to police.
All four were charged with possession of equipment for electronic theft, being in Thailand illegally (having overstayed their visas) and, in the case of Ramzi, with possession of a banned substance.
Police said the trio came to Phuket during Songkran posing as tourists. With the large amounts of visitors on the island they soon managed to skim dozens of cards.
They cloned the cards and then used them to withdraw hundreds of thousands of baht from each card-holder’s account.
The money was spent on clothing, eyewear, gold and other luxuries, or was changed into Euros which the trio hoped to carry with them out of Thailand.
Lt Nikom said, “This is only one of the gangs we have found. We believe they are connected with other gangs who have been committing the same kind of crime in Koh Samui, Bangkok, Chonburi and other provinces.”
The trio are being held in Thung Thong police station while the investigation proceeds. Police believe one more member of the gang is still at large, and he is being sought.