National —
On January 18th, 2025, Pol. Gen. Thatchai Pitaneelabut, the National Police Inspector-General of Thailand, announced that a missing Japanese teenage boy had been located and safely repatriated to Japan.
The case began when the Japanese Embassy in Thailand sought assistance from the Royal Thai Police after the boy’s family reported losing contact with him during his recent trip to Thailand.
Investigations revealed that the teenager (whose name was withheld by the police due to age and the sensitivity of this particular case) had traveled to Thailand alone after being persuaded by an individual he met through an online game. Relevant law enforcement did not reveal how the teen obtained the funds for the trip nor the name of the game.
Unaware of his actions, his family reached out to Japanese authorities, who then coordinated with Thai police to locate him. Thai officers reportedly found the boy within a day and worked with the Japanese Embassy to ensure his safe return.
Pol. Gen. Thatchai emphasized the importance of online safety for youth and urged parents to guide their children on the responsible use of online platforms.
The Japanese Embassy, led by Police Attaché Pol. Col. Naoto Watanabe, expressed gratitude to the Thai police for their swift action in resolving the case.
Relevant police did not answer any immediate questions about the person the teen went to meet, their age, or nationality.
Photo shows Japanese Embassy officers thanking Thai police for their swift work in this case.
