There’s something darkly comedic about what’s happening in Thailand right now. Deputy Prime Minister Thammanat Prompao is threatening to weaponize Interpol’s Red Notice system against journalists (including Whale Hunting’s Tom Wright)
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There’s something darkly comedic about what’s happening in Thailand right now. Deputy Prime Minister Thammanat Prompao is threatening to weaponize Interpol’s Red Notice system against journalists (including Whale Hunting’s Tom Wright) and lawmakers who dare question his relationship with Benjamin Mauerberger. Yes, that’s right – a sitting government minister is suggesting he’ll use the international fugitive alert system designed to catch terrorists and murderers to go after people who dare to ask inconvenient questions.
The irony is rich. Mauerberger himself – the South African criminal at the center of our $1.5 billion money laundering investigation – has been calling for the OCCRP (Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project) and other investigative bodies to look into our reporting. Now Thammanat is making similar threats, except with the added absurdity of invoking Interpol Red Notices as if they’re parking tickets he can hand out to annoying journalists.
While these men trade legal threats and denials, real people are being destroyed. The scam centers in Cambodia that Mauerberger’s network allegedly launders money for cost American victims $10 billion annually – that’s retirees losing their life savings to romance scams, lonely people catfished into bankruptcy, families watching their loved ones spiral into financial ruin. Every yacht, private plane and mansion acquired by the Mauerberger network happens against a backdrop of human trafficking victims forced to run these scams from fortified compounds.
In an explosive interview with Thai media, Thammanat denied everything about his relationship with Mauerberger while simultaneously threatening billion-baht lawsuits against anyone linking him to the fugitive. The denials are fascinating in their specificity – and what they leave unsaid. [Note: Until this article, we had never mentioned Thammanat's name and have made no allegations against him.]
Our Investigation Found:
Thammanat Now Claims:
In recent days, Thammanat addressed his relationship with Mauerberger. Here’s what he said:
On His Relationship with Mauerberger:
“I don’t have any close relationship with Ben Smith [Mauerberger’s alias]. We’ve met at social events, charity functions. That’s the extent of it. These allegations are completely fabricated.”
On the Photos with Benjamin Mauerberger:
“Yes, there are photos. But attending an event doesn’t mean you’re involved in someone’s business. I attend hundreds of events. This is normal for someone in my position.”
His Threat to Critics:
“Don’t come playing games with me – your mouth is brave, but your legs will shake. I have filed over 100 defamation cases already, with 270 more being prepared in Phayao province. Anyone spreading these lies will face legal consequences.”
On Media Coverage:
“The media reporting this is spreading fake news. They will face legal action too. I’m not just threatening – I’m taking action. The damages will be in the billions of baht.”
These aren’t empty threats in Thailand, which ranks 85th out of 180 countries in the World Press Freedom Index. The kingdom has a long history of using criminal defamation laws to silence journalism – where a single critical article can lead to years in prison. Thammanat’s billion-baht lawsuits aren’t happening in a vacuum; they’re part of how Thai elites systematically intimidate reporters and opposition voices. The threat is particularly chilling given that Thai courts have historically favored the powerful in defamation cases, making the legal system itself a weapon against accountability.
In his denials, the Deputy PM conveniently ignores:
This investigation has required months of work across multiple jurisdictions. Legal threats like Thammanat’s are designed to drain resources and create fear. They won’t succeed, but we need your support.
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Thammanat’s threats aren’t happening in isolation – they’re part of a disturbing global pattern where Interpol’s Red Notice system has become a favorite weapon of autocrats and kleptocrats.
The system was designed to help catch genuine international criminals. But in 2021, we saw China use it to pursue Uyghur activist Idris Hasan, who was arrested in Morocco on a Red Notice that targeted him solely for being a dissident. Human rights observers called it a stark example of how Interpol can be co-opted for political persecution.
Russia has been even more brazen. Moscow spent years trying to use Interpol to hunt down Bill Browder, the investor-turned-activist who became one of Putin’s fiercest critics after his lawyer Sergei Magnitsky was murdered in a Russian prison. When Interpol’s own commission deemed Russia’s case against Browder predominantly political and refused to issue a Red Notice, Russia didn’t give up. They found a loophole – using an unfiltered Interpol diffusion notice that bypassed the review system. In 2018, Browder was briefly arrested in Spain on what authorities called a “Russian warrant,” though Interpol later insisted no official Red Notice was active for him at the time.
Turkey, Iran, Venezuela – they’ve all played this game, seeking Red Notices for exiled journalists, opposition politicians, even business rivals. As one expert bluntly told us, Interpol still operates on an honor system, assuming member states act in good faith. The result is rampant abuse of a system meant to catch murderers and terrorists, now being used to silence critics and settle political scores.
And now we have a Thai Deputy Prime Minister floating the same threat against anyone who dares to question his alleged ties to organized crime. The absurdity would be laughable if the consequences weren’t so serious.
We’re continuing to investigate:
Every legal threat confirms we’re on the right track. Every denial raises more questions. Every attempt at intimidation strengthens our resolve.
[Translated from Thai]
“Regarding the allegations about my relationship with Mr. Benjamin Smith [Mauerberger], I categorically deny any business relationship or involvement in any illegal activities. These are baseless accusations designed to damage my reputation and political standing.
Yes, I have attended social events where Mr. Smith was present. Thailand is a hub for international business and tourism. Meeting people at events does not constitute a crime or indicate any deeper relationship.
I am taking legal action against those spreading these false allegations. I have already filed over 100 defamation cases, with 270 more being prepared. The damages sought will be in the billions of baht. This is not a threat – it is a promise.
To the media: be very careful. Reporting these false allegations makes you complicit in defamation. You will face legal consequences.
To my critics: Don’t come playing games with me. Your mouth is brave, but your legs will shake when you face the consequences of your lies.
I have served Thailand with honor throughout my career. I will not allow my reputation to be destroyed by politically motivated attacks.”
Related Investigation:
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