Immigration Division 3 officers, together with the FBI, raid and arrest an American woman — a suspect who abducted her own child and fled across continents for nearly 2 years. The 8-year-old boy is found safe and is being returned to his father's care.
On 19 August 2026, officers of the Investigation Sub-division, Immigration Division 3, together with relevant officials, launched an operation to track down and arrest an American woman, aged 45, who was being sought by United States authorities under an arrest warrant issued by an Oregon state court on a charge of "parental kidnapping." She had fled the United States and had been residing in Thailand for nearly 2 years.
Officers were able to locate the woman at a hostel in the Prawet district of Bangkok, where an 8-year-old boy — the suspect's son — was also found at the same premises. The child was in a safe condition. Relevant agencies were subsequently coordinated to take over the care and protection of the child's welfare, and the necessary procedures were initiated to return him to his father.
Previously, the Immigration Bureau had received information from US authorities that an American woman wanted in connection with a serious criminal case involving the abduction of her own child had fled to Thailand. The investigation team promptly verified the information and monitored her movements until it was established that the suspect was hiding in the Prawet district, whereupon she was kept under surveillance until she was found.
A check of her passport and personal history confirmed she was the same individual whose permission to remain in the Kingdom had been revoked, based on information received from US authorities. Officers then took her into custody to be processed under the law, while coordinating with relevant agencies to ensure the protection of the 8-year-old boy who was found with his mother at the time of the arrest.
The case traces back to early 2025, after an American man named Hassan Mahmoud separated from his former wife, Linda. The court had issued an order granting Hassan custody of their 8-year-old son, as the mother had issues with alcohol dependency and exhibited mental health symptoms, according to information in the case file.
Subsequently, Linda took the child away from his father's care and fled. Hassan made continuous efforts to find his son, hiring a private investigator, filing a police report, and creating a website to disseminate information in search of the child — efforts that spanned more than a year and a half, until the story gained widespread attention and coverage across the United States.
Eventually, Thailand's Immigration Bureau received a crucial tip regarding the suspect's whereabouts and coordinated with US law enforcement agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), which ultimately led to the suspect being tracked down. The 8-year-old boy was rescued and placed in safe care, and preparations are under way to return him to his father through the relevant legal process.
Pol. Maj. Gen. Songprod Sirisukha, Commander of Immigration Division 3, stated that the Immigration Bureau will not allow Thailand to serve as a refuge for criminals from abroad, particularly in cases involving the safety and welfare of children. He affirmed that the agency will cooperate fully with international law enforcement authorities to prevent Thailand from being used as a destination for fugitives or suspects fleeing from other countries.
