Pattaya – Thai Immigration Police in Chonburi Province have arrested a 43-year-old German national wanted by German authorities for alleged fraud and money laundering, following a tip-off from the German Embassy in Thailand.
The operation stemmed from a coordination request received by Pol. Col. Naphatphong Khosit Suriyamanee, Superintendent of the Chonburi Immigration Office, from the German Embassy. The embassy provided information that a German suspect with an active arrest warrant in Germany for fraud and money laundering had fled and was hiding in the Pattaya area. Cooperation was requested to urgently track and apprehend him, with the initial alert dated February 2nd, 2026.
On February 11th, 2026, at approximately 10:00 a.m., Pol. Lt. Col. Kawinwat Arayasuriwong, Deputy Superintendent, along with Pol. Capt. Kittiphat Hongchuwej, Superintendent of Immigration, and Pol. Lt. Wirat Pattamawong, Deputy Superintendent, led an investigation team. They worked with German Embassy officials to conduct surveillance and track the suspect’s movements.
The suspect was identified as Mr. Siegfried Schmitz, 43, residing in a house in Soi Jomtien 10.
After gathering sufficient evidence, officers obtained a search warrant from the Pattaya Provincial Court and raided the residence. Mr. Schmitz was apprehended in front of the house while attempting to leave on a motorcycle.
During the search of the property, authorities seized one computer CPU, three mobile phones, and two credit cards as evidence. These items were confiscated for further examination of related data and financial transactions linked to the case.
Passport and visa checks revealed that Mr. Schmitz had also overstayed in Thailand by more than 2,500 days, far exceeding legal limits. He is also the subject of an international arrest warrant from Germany for allegedly defrauding numerous victims in his home country, with damages estimated at no less than 1.5 million baht (approximately €40,000+).
According to investigators, the suspect operated an online scam by selling goods, reportedly including mobile phones, through well-known international websites. After receiving payments via digital wallets on cryptocurrency platforms, he would disappear without delivering the products, resulting in numerous victims in Germany. This led to the issuance of the arrest warrant by German authorities, who then sought assistance from Thai officials.
Mr. Schmitz has been detained by the Chonburi Immigration Office and transferred to investigators at Pattaya City Police Station for legal proceedings. Authorities are now coordinating the deportation process to return him to Germany to face charges in his home country. The suspect did not immediately release a statement.
