On May 18, Pol. Col. Thanisorn Saengthanang, Superintendent of Chiang Saen Immigration, Chiang Rai Province, reported that on May 17, at the permanent border checkpoint at the Golden Triangle (Ban Sop Ruak), Village No. 1, Wiang Subdistrict, Chiang Saen District, Chiang Rai, immigration officers arrested Mr. Chu Deng Hao, a 37-year-old Chinese national, on the following charges:
- Forging and using counterfeit immigration stamps, in violation of the Criminal Code.
- Exiting the Kingdom through an unauthorized immigration checkpoint, as per Section 11 of the Immigration Act B.E. 2522 (1979).
- Overstaying his permitted duration of stay in the Kingdom, in violation of the same Act.
He was handed over to Chiang Saen Police Station for further legal proceedings.
According to Pol. Col. Thanisorn, Mr. Chu admitted during questioning that he entered Thailand from the United Arab Emirates on February 24, 2022, via Suvarnabhumi Airport and had been residing in Bangkok. He overstayed his visa by approximately 564 days. He later contacted a Chinese friend in the UAE who arranged with a Thai national to help him leave Thailand for Laos.
He and the Thai national traveled by car from Bangkok to the Golden Triangle border checkpoint. Upon arrival, the Thai national took his passport and led him to exit the country through a side path, bypassing official immigration checks. He was then transported by boat, accompanied by an unidentified man. Upon reaching the checkpoint in Laos, the man returned his passport, allowing him entry into Laos after paying 150,000 baht on September 25, 2023.
He later re-entered Thailand at the same Golden Triangle checkpoint, presenting his Chinese passport to immigration officers, leading to his arrest.