Thai authorities have commenced deportation proceedings against a Nigerian national, Clinton Ubasinachi Ekechukwu, after an artificial intelligence-powered facial recognition system allegedly identified him as an immigration violator in the country.
As reported by Peoples Gazette, Ekechukwu was arrested during a security operation in Kathu, Phuket, as part of an ongoing nationwide crackdown on transnational crimes and immigration-related offences ordered by Police Lieutenant-General Saksira Puek-am.
Reports indicated that Thai law enforcement agencies recently deployed mobile AI facial recognition technology connected to a central immigration database to track foreigners suspected of overstaying their visas.
The operation reportedly led to the arrest of the 24-year-old Nigerian and an Ivorian national, Ousmane Kone, after the system flagged them as undocumented migrants during a raid conducted last Friday.
Authorities disclosed that investigations revealed Ekechukwu had remained in Thailand for nearly two and a half years beyond the validity of his visa after initially entering the country through a 60-day visa exemption arrangement.
Police also alleged that Kone had overstayed his legal stay in Thailand for more than two years.
Both suspects were subsequently transferred to investigators at the Kathu Police Station for prosecution and deportation procedures.
They were reportedly charged with immigration offences linked to visa overstay.
Thai officials were said to have praised the effectiveness of the facial recognition system, noting that security agencies would continue to rely on technology-driven surveillance to identify illegal immigrants and combat transnational crimes.
The latest arrest comes amid intensified scrutiny of foreigners in Thailand.
Last week, another Nigerian national, Samuel Egbujonuma Silas, was reportedly arrested during an undercover cocaine operation targeting foreign nationals suspected of criminal activities.
Similarly, a Thailand-based Nigerian identified as Louis Junior was apprehended after allegedly attempting to sell cocaine to undercover police operatives.
0 Comments