An Aussie tourist allegedly wanted for armed robbery has been arrested after his name was flagged during a biometric screening at an airport in Thailand.
The Australian man, identified by officials as ‘Mr Mc’, was arrested on May 3 at 8.30pm at the International Suvarnabhumi airport in Bangkok, the country’s capital.
Mr Mc was on Thai Airways flight TG432 from Bali, Indonesia, to Thailand and was flagged by authorities while he was trying to board a connecting flight to Phuket.
The airport’s immigration system flagged the Aussie tourist’s name during a routine biometric screening, according to the Immigration Bureau.
The screening showed he was banned from entering Thailand and that he had an active arrest warrant for an armed robbery from the Phuket Provincial Court.
Police Lieutenant Colonel Chaiwat Chansuwan, Deputy Superintendent of Investigation at the Chalong Police Station, confirmed the Australian had a standing arrest warrant.
Officials did not disclose the nature of the offence or when it took place as the case is still under Thai criminal investigation.
However, the warrant alleges the Australian man committed a ‘robbery with or using a firearm’ and that he also ‘used a vehicle to commit an offence’ while in Phuket.
The Australian man, identified by officials as ‘Mr Mc’, was arrested at the International Suvarnabhumi airport in Bangkok (pictured)
The airport’s immigration system flagged the Aussie tourist’s name during a routine biometric screening, which alerted authorities to an outstanding warrant
‘The arrest was smooth and the suspect did not resist the police,’ a police spokesman said.
‘The Immigration Division 2 successfully caught him and handed him over to the relevant authorities for further legal action.’
Mr Mc had passed immigration control, but was flagged after his face was scanned at the airport’s automated biometric identification system.
The Thailand Digital Entry Card (TDAC) system, powered by Facial Recognition technology, was introduced in November 2024 and uses passenger’s biometric data.
Passengers who have registered can use their biometric data to bypass traditional passport or boarding pass checks including baggage drop, security checks and boarding.
The system is also used to match arriving passengers to any outstanding warrants, entry bans and Interpol red notices.
Mr Mc’s faced was scanned, which alerted authorities to a red flag and triggered an additional screening.
As a result, the Australian man was detained and prevented from continuing to Phuket. He will remain in detention until his case is processed.
The warrant alleges the Australian man committed a ‘robbery with or using a firearm’ and that he also ‘used a vehicle to commit an offence’ while in Phuket
It’s understood Mr Mc will not be allowed to remain in the country, with authorities withholding his identity as formal extradition or prosecution procedures.
Mr Mc will remain in detention until his case is processed.
Mr Mc could face heavy penalties if he is convicted of armed robbery as it carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment under Thailand’s criminal code.
