Interpol fugitive caught on Koh Samui. Frenchman Alexandre Toj, 53, faces a ฿50 million tax fraud investigation involving fake VAT invoices, a €650,000 aircraft purchase and overseas bank transfers. Thai immigration officers arrested him in Bo Phut.
A French fugitive wanted under an Interpol Red Notice over a ฿50 million tax fraud investigation was arrested on Koh Samui this Wednesday. Alexandre Toj, 53, was tracked to a house in Bo Phut by Thai immigration police. French investigators accuse him of a seven-year scheme involving forged VAT invoices, a €650,000 aircraft purchase and €130,000 in unpaid taxes. The investigation also uncovered transfers of undeclared funds to bank accounts in Switzerland and Spain. Two French companies and a Spanish aviation firm feature in the case. Meanwhile, National Police Commissioner General Samran Nuanma’s crackdown on foreign fugitives led to Toj’s arrest after his Thai immigration permission was revoked. He was transferred to Surat Thani Immigration for legal proceedings.
A French fugitive wanted over a massive VAT fraud and tax evasion investigation was arrested on Koh Samui on Wednesday, October 28. The 53-year-old suspect, Alexandre Toj, was wanted under an Interpol Red Notice over losses exceeding ฿50 million.
French investigators accuse him of using forged invoices, aircraft purchases and international bank transfers to defraud the French government. The suspected offences stretched across seven years and involved companies in France and Spain.
Meanwhile, Thai immigration investigators tracked him to a house in Bo Phut. Officers arrested him outside the property after his permission to remain in Thailand was revoked.
French fugitive linked to ฿50 million tax fraud as investigators uncover forged invoices and aircraft deals
The arrest followed a targeted operation by the Immigration Bureau’s Investigation Division. Officers were pursuing foreign fugitives wanted by overseas authorities for serious criminal offences. Toj was among those identified during the crackdown.
His case involved fraudulent VAT deductions, aircraft financing and transfers of undeclared funds abroad. French authorities calculated the resulting financial damage at more than ฿50 million.
The investigation dates back to April 2011, when the suspected fraud began in the Paris area. According to French case information, Toj used forged commercial invoices to claim fraudulent VAT deductions.
Two companies, 2HARD and SOLAIR, featured prominently in the transactions. Their invoices were allegedly used to obtain VAT deductions totalling €157,442.64. The suspected invoice fraud continued until October 31, 2018.
Separately, investigators uncovered an aircraft financing arrangement worth €650,000. Between January 2013 and June 21, 2018, Toj allegedly secured financing through a foreign company. That company was linked to the wider VAT fraud investigation. The funds were used to purchase an aircraft. Consequently, the aircraft transaction became another major element of the financial case against the French national.
Spanish aircraft transactions and overseas bank transfers deepen French tax fraud investigation
On another front, investigators identified aircraft transactions involving a company based in Spain. AIRSKY IB featured in dealings conducted between January 2015 and December 31, 2016.
These transactions involved invoices and aircraft deliveries arranged by the suspect. French investigators allege the arrangements were used to evade VAT owed in France. The outstanding tax amounted to €130,000.
The financial investigation also extended to overseas bank accounts. Authorities identified transfers of commissions and undeclared funds connected to the suspected tax offences. Notably, the transfers included payments into bank accounts in Switzerland and Spain. The transactions added an international banking element to the case, alongside the aircraft dealings and fraudulent invoices.
Across the investigation, French authorities examined transactions involving several companies and different European jurisdictions. The alleged invoice fraud stretched from April 2011 to October 2018.
Aircraft financing transactions overlapped with that period, while the Spanish dealings occurred between 2015 and 2016. Together, these activities formed the basis of a tax fraud investigation involving losses exceeding ฿50 million.
Interpol Red Notice leads Thai immigration police to French fugitive wanted over major tax offences
French authorities subsequently sought Toj internationally over the suspected offences. He became the subject of an Interpol Red Notice. The international alert placed the 53-year-old French national among fugitives sought by law enforcement authorities abroad. His trail eventually led investigators to Thailand.
In parallel, Thai immigration police were intensifying operations against foreign nationals wanted for offences committed overseas. The crackdown followed instructions from National Police Commissioner Police General Samran Nuanma.
He ordered immigration officers to step up checks on foreign criminals entering or remaining in Thailand. The operation also targeted foreigners who had entered illegally or whose permission to stay had been revoked.
Under these instructions, the Immigration Bureau’s Investigation Division pursued foreign suspects linked to overseas arrest warrants. The Koh Samui operation came under Police Lieutenant General Nophasin Poolsawat, Commissioner of the Immigration Bureau. Police Major General Thanit Thaiwatcharamas, Deputy Commissioner of the Immigration Bureau, also supervised the investigation.
Senior immigration officers direct Koh Samui operation as investigators close in on French fugitive
Operational command involved Police Major General Sarawut Khonyai, Commander of the Immigration Bureau’s Investigation Division. Meanwhile, Police Colonel Pisit Sri-on, Superintendent of Division 2, oversaw the investigation team. In addition, Police Lieutenant Colonel Pichet Saengbandit, Inspector of Division 2, led the officers assigned to locate the French suspect.
Investigators traced Toj to Koh Samui, the tourist island in Surat Thani province. Their inquiries subsequently identified a residence in Bo Phut subdistrict, Koh Samui district. Consequently, the investigation team moved to the property after establishing the suspect’s whereabouts. Officers then located the wanted French national outside the house.
On Wednesday, October 28, the immigration team arrested Toj at the location. His permission to remain in Thailand had been revoked. Accordingly, officers took him into custody under Thai immigration law. The formal charge was “being a foreign national whose permission to stay in the Kingdom has been revoked.”
Following the arrest, officers transferred the suspect to the Surat Thani Immigration Office for further legal proceedings. Thus, the operation brought the French national into Thai custody following an international search linked to the tax fraud investigation.
French tax fraud case details aircraft financing, forged VAT claims and international money transfers
The financial case against Toj involved three substantial transactions spanning several years. First, investigators identified fraudulent VAT deductions totalling €157,442.64 involving invoices from 2HARD and SOLAIR. The suspected offences occurred in the Paris area between April 2011 and October 2018.
Next, investigators traced an aircraft financing arrangement worth €650,000 through a foreign company connected to the suspected fraud. Specifically, the financing covered transactions between January 2013 and June 2018. Furthermore, the money was allegedly used to purchase an aircraft.
Meanwhile, the Spanish transactions formed another part of the investigation. Between January 2015 and December 2016, Toj allegedly arranged invoices and aircraft deliveries involving AIRSKY IB. Consequently, French authorities linked these dealings to €130,000 in unpaid VAT.
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Additionally, investigators identified transfers of commissions and undeclared funds to accounts in Switzerland and Spain. The combined investigation involved suspected financial damage exceeding ฿50 million.
The case culminated in Wednesday’s operation outside the Bo Phut residence. Immigration officers arrested the 53-year-old Frenchman and transferred him to Surat Thani Immigration for proceedings under Thai law.
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