Boonlua Chatree
Chonburi Immigration Police captured an alleged Russian mobster, wanted
by Interpol on extortion charges, hiding out in Pattaya.
Mark
Lunev has been arrested in Pattaya at the request of Interpol.
Mark Lunev, 39, was captured outside his Baan Somprasong Condominium in
Jomtien Beach Aug. 27. His arrest came after a request from the Russian
Embassy to capture and extradite him.
Police said Lunev is wanted in Russia on multiple charges of extortion and
money laundering. He is alleged to be a member of the Russian mafia.
Investigators found Lunev, in addition to his Russian passport, also holds a
Cambodian passport for which he allegedly paid the equivalent of 3 million
baht.
Immigration records show he made frequent trips in and out of the kingdom,
usually to Cambodia where the money laundering is suspected to have
occurred. His most-recent trip from Thailand on his Russian passport was in
February 2013 and he re-entered the kingdom on his Cambodian passport July
19.
He also had a long-term visa for Thailand which allowed him to stay in the
kingdom until June 2015. It was issued in Samut Prakan and has now been
revoked.
