Thailand police on alert as 'Iranian spy' caught in Indonesia: reports

Thailand's national police force is on high alert after a suspected Iranian spy was detained in Indonesia, according to reports.

Royal Thai Police issued a secret order for its officers to watch out for spies after an Iranian was arrested at an Indonesian airport last month, The Bangkok Post reported Monday, citing a Thai police source.

Security agencies were closely monitoring the movement of Iranian nationals and some Thai Muslims suspected to be working as spies in the country, the source added.

Indonesian authorities received a tip that a man named Ghassem Saberi Gilchalan had arrived in the country on a fake Bulgarian passport, the source said.

Gilchalan was arrested a few days later at Jakarta's main airport as he prepared to depart Indonesia. He allegedly told police that he had used a fake passport to enter the country.

Indonesian police found that he entered the country more than 10 times using false papers, and a court gave him a two-year jail sentence for the offences.

A check on his mobile phones found the names of some Thai Muslims, the source said, adding that Indonesian authorities believe Gilchalan is a spy from Iran.

During interrogation by the Indonesians, Gilchalan said he had visited Thailand several times, and also met prominent Shia Thai Muslims who have close ties with Iran.

"In light of this, it is possible that spies from Iran may also be engaging in secret operations in Thailand using fake passports and some Thais are also suspected of working as spies with financial aid or other kinds of support," the source told The Bangkok Post.

The source said Thai authorities were already more wary than usual because the country will be hosting an international economic conference later this year.

"We can't afford to let any unrest or violence happen," the source said.

Thailand is a popular tourist destination for Israelis, in particular among fresh veterans of the Israeli army who can make visits up to several months long, according to The Times of Israel.

News of the foiled plot follows the killing of Sayad Khodai, a colonel in Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, who was shot dead outside his home in Tehran on 22 May.

Israel allegedly informed the US that it had been behind the killing, The New York Times reported, citing an intelligence official. A senior Israeli lawmaker denied Israeli involvement in the killing.

Iran has vowed to avenge Khodai's death.