The Pakistani accused of leading a passport forgery gang linked to international terrorist groups operated for ten years in Thailand under the protection of powerful connections, according to the officer who headed the investigation.Muhammad Ather Butt, 39, known simply as Tony and called the "kingpin", allegedly transferred 20 million baht in and out of the country over the past four years and had $90,000 cash hidden in his car when arrested.
Butt, 39, and his girlfriend Sirikalya Kitbamrung, 25, were detained on Nov 30 by Department of Special Investigation (DSI) as they were about to cross into Laos. Another Pakistani, Zezan Azzan Butt, 27, was arrested on the same day in connection with the forgery racket.
The DSI agent who headed the investigation, codenamed Operation Alpha, gave details to the Bangkok Post of the difficulties involved with the case and how Butt was able to operate with such freedom for a decade.
