Two thousand visa stickers, intended for the Thai embassy in The Hague, were lost during the flight from Frankfurt to Amsterdam.
They had been sent by diplomatic mail: from Bangkok to Frankfurt on a Thai Airways International flight and then on a second flight. Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul (Foreign Affairs) says he has no indications that personnel from his ministry are involved in the disappearance. He thinks an organized gang is targeting the stickers.
Earlier it was announced that 300 stickers were stolen from the embassy in Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia). The visas of 55 persons who are in possession of a stolen visa and are still in Thailand have been declared invalid; 14 of them have now been arrested. Some were detained when they tried to leave Thailand via Mukdahan province last month. They stated that they entered Thailand from Malaysia.
In this case, Immigration officials suspect involvement in the theft. Staff members of the embassy in Kuala Lumpur, who had a hand in the theft, can expect disciplinary punishment. A committee of inquiry is trying to find out the culprits.
Minister Surapong says he is discussing a new form of issuing visas. The stickers could be printed on site and should include the applicant's photo. The Thai embassies and consulates-general in other countries have been asked by the ministry to check their visas for malpractice.
Bangkok police have arrested a man in possession of 43 counterfeit passports and 75 visa stickers. He says he sold the passports for 2.000 baht and the stickers for 1.000 baht. The message does not provide further details.
(Source: bangkok mail, August 27st 2013)