BANGKOK – Thai police have arrested a Russian mafia gang leader wanted back home for his alleged involvement in scores of killings and other criminal activities since 1995.
Police Gen. Wut Liptapanlop says the mafia boss, Alexander Matusov, was arrested on Monday in front of a supermarket in Thailand's eastern seaside town of Sattahip in Chonburi province.
A Russian diplomat in Bangkok said Wednesday that Matusov's network "Chelkovo" was active from 1995 to 2009 and was notorious for killings, extortion and kidnaps in Moscow and St. Petersburg areas.
Wut said the 52-year-old first entered Thailand in 2009 and left before returning on a fake Armenian passport. He said Matusov had been living in Thailand on a retirement visa.
Thai immigration police have revoked his visa and are pushing for his deportation.