Chinese Embassy Warns Thailand Travelers After String of Kidnappings and Myanmar Trafficking Cases

Chinese embassy in Thailand has issued a fresh travel warning to citizens over a string of kidnappings targeting Chinese nationals that led to trafficking into Myanmar scam syndicates, while police in Nigeria, Pakistan and the United States separately announced major arrests and identifications in cult, abduction and decades-old murder cases.

China Issues Thailand Kidnapping Warning

China’s embassy in Thailand has warned citizens to carefully plan their trips and pay extra attention to transport security following a string of high-profile kidnappings targeting Chinese nationals. [1] Online influencers and artists were also advised to remain vigilant against high-paying job scams operating in Thailand in the latest such warning issued on Friday. [1] There have been a number of high-profile incidents in recent months in which online celebrities and travellers were kidnapped in Thailand and trafficked to scam syndicates in Myanmar. [1] A Chinese live-streamer was reportedly held for a US$90,000 ransom in Myanmar as part of recent incidents involving online influencers and artists lured by high-paying job scams in Thailand. [1] The Bangkok embassy urged travellers to “pay attention to transport arranged by others” and “plan their itinerary and choose licensed transport and legal operators”, while being “careful not to take any free rides from acquaintances or strangers” alike. [1] Individuals should also refuse sudden changes to venues or travel routes and keep their families informed of their whereabouts, Friday’s notice posted to the embassy website said. [1]

Nigerian Police Arrest 95 Suspected Cultists

Operatives of the Delta State Police Command have arrested 95 suspected cultists in coordinated raids on criminal hideouts across the state. [2] The operatives recovered five firearms, comprising two pump-action guns, one locally fabricated cut-to-size gun and two locally made pistols, alongside 12 live cartridges and seven expended cartridges. [2] A statement signed by the command’s Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, copies of which were made available to journalists in Warri on Saturday, noted that “the arrests followed coordinated operations by the Department of Operations, Rapid Response Squad (RRS) and Command Anti-Cultism Unit (CACU) across Asaba, Ika South, Ughelli South, and Okpe Local Government Areas on 15th October 2026”. [2] “The operations were in compliance with the directive of the State Commissioner of Police, CP Samuel Erale to intensify intelligence-led operations against cultism and related violent crimes,” it added. [2] The statement read in part, “Acting on credible intelligence that suspected members of the Supreme Vikings Confraternity (SVC), also known as Aro Bagger, had assembled at a hotel along Abraka Road, Asaba, for an alleged cult anniversary celebration, a combined team of operatives from the Department of Operations, Rapid Response Squad, Asaba Sector and Command Anti-Cult Unit, Asaba Sector raided the premises and arrested sixty-seven (67) suspects, comprising fifty-five (55) males and twelve (12) females. [2] The operation led to the recovery of two (2) pump-action guns, one (1) locally fabricated cut-to-size gun, ten (10) live cartridges, five (5) expended cartridges, eleven (11) caps bearing suspected cult insignia and two (2) branded cult jackets. [2] In a related operation at Agbor, Ika South Local Government Area, operatives of RRS Agbor Sector arrested fifteen (15) additional suspects, comprising fourteen (14) males and one (1) female, with items suspected to be linked to the same Supreme Vikings Confraternity (SVC). [2] Similarly, following intelligence on a gathering of suspected members of the Supreme Vikings Confraternity (SVC) cult group at Jeremy Community, Ughelli South Local Government Area, operatives of Command Anti-Cult Unit, Ovwian-Aladja Sector, in collaboration with a civilian anti-cult group, raided a criminal hideout and arrested three (3) suspects identified as John Pius (32), Oghene Ochuko (28) and Akinbule Godstime (24), while others fled. [2] Two (2) locally made pistols, two (2) live cartridges, two (2) expended cartridges, two (2) caps bearing suspected cult insignia and suspected charms were recovered. [2] In another operation at Jeddo Community, Okpe Local Government Area, ten (10) additional male suspects were arrested in connection with suspected cult activities. [2] The suspects and exhibits are in police custody, while investigations are ongoing. [2] Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, CP Samuel Erale, commended the operatives and directed all area commanders, divisional police officers and tactical commanders to intensify operations against cult groups across the state. [2] The commissioner warned that “the Command will not tolerate cult-related activities capable of threatening public peace and urged residents to support the Police with credible information”. [2]

Former Chicago Detective Identified in 1960 Child Murder

Chicago police identified former detective Thomas F. McInerney Jr., who died in 2006, as the killer of 8-year-old Gloria Kowalewicz in 1960 through a fingerprint on her purse and DNA evidence, after a 65-year investigation involving more than 1,300 interviews. [3] Chicago cop Thomas F. McInerney Jr. has been identified as the man who abducted, shot and killed Gloria Kowalewicz on Nov. 12, 1960. [3] At the time, McInerney was a recent addition to the agency, a violent crimes detective with the Chicago Police Department. [3] He died in 2006. [3] But evidence pointing to him as the killer lived on. [3] And recent improvements in technology finally brought answers. [3] Just before 8 a.m. on the morning of her death, Kowalewicz began walking a few blocks from her home to St. Mary of Mt. Carmel Church. [3] She never arrived. [3] About four hours later, her body was found in a ditch in a forest preserve southwest of Chicago. [3] Her killer left evidence scattered at the scene of the crime and along a highway back to Chicago. [3] Investigators found a bullet, Kowalewicz’s coat, her shoes, and her little, white communion purse that held her prayer book. [3] But the killer was never identified. [3] But recently, investigators pursued more clues using updated technology. [3] Ultimately, it was a fingerprint lifted off the strap of her purse that led investigators to McInerney after more than six decades. [3] As part of the investigation, Chicago police formed a task force. [3] They knocked on hundreds of doors and interviewed more than 1,300 people in the hopes of finding the girl's killer. [3] More than a dozen people were questioned under a polygraph. [3] The man responsible continued to blend inside the department. [3] "It's not that law enforcement was incompetent at the time—they just didn't have the sophisticated investigative tools," said Michael Gould, a founding member of the New York Police Department’s K-9 unit. [3] Using K-9 teams to track the scent of the killer could have been a more effective strategy, Gould told Fox News Digital. [3] But using dogs to investigate crimes wasn’t widely adopted until the mid ‘80s, Gould said. [3] Now, they’re routinely used and have "cracked a lot of missing person cases." [3] "Dogs could have tracked where the person lived and what direction he fled." [3] "They give us X-ray vision. They allow us to see things—evidence—that's invisible to the naked eye. And that's what the primary locating tool should be for law enforcement, police K-9." [3] Chicago Police Department detectives never stopped searching for the girl’s killer, according to a statement sent by the agency to Fox News Digital. [3] Through the years, they worked with Illinois State Police and the FBI to continue a quest for answers. [3] The DNA and fingerprint evidence was preserved for decades until, finally, technology advanced enough to bring answers. [3] The Chicago Police Department said DNA evidence and a preserved fingerprint helped investigators identify the killer of 8-year-old Gloria Kowalewicz more than 65 years after her murder. [3] After working in the Chicago Police Department for 28 years, McInerney retired and moved to Las Vegas. [3] He died 20 years ago at age 70. [3] "His abhorrent actions not only took the life of an 8-year-old child, but left her parents and all who knew and loved her shattered as they searched for answers," the Chicago Police Department said in a prepared statement. [3] "McInerney should never have worn the CPD star, and it is devastating to accept that he was never identified and held accountable while he was alive. Though her parents have since passed away and were not able to receive justice in their daughter’s murder, we hope that this news brings a measure of closure to all who knew Gloria and her story." [3]

20 Police Trainees Abducted in Pakistan’s Balochistan

At least 20 police trainees have been abducted by unidentified armed men in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province while travelling on leave, a senior government official said, as a separate incident saw an abandoned police post demolished in Qila Abdullah district. [4] The trainees were travelling in a private passenger van from Kalat towards Nushki when armed men intercepted them along the Sarband route, a shorter road connecting the districts, according to officials cited in local media reports. [4] The personnel belong to Washuk, Chagai, Kharan and Nushki districts in the Rakhshan division and were receiving training at the police recruitment centre in Kalat. [4] The armed men reportedly took the trainees away and moved them towards Mastung district before transferring them to an undisclosed location. [4] The van’s driver and two or three other passengers were released, while the trainees remained missing. [4] Authorities said efforts were underway to locate and recover them. [4] No group had claimed responsibility at the time of reporting. [4] In a separate incident, unidentified armed men demolished an unoccupied police post in the Pankai area of Qila Abdullah district. [4] A police official in Quetta said police and security forces launched an operation after receiving information about the attack. [4] The assailants reportedly fled towards Panjpai. [4] Authorities have not released details of any casualties or arrests linked to the incident. [4] The abduction comes amid a series of kidnappings involving government officials and security personnel in Balochistan. [4] Reports have also documented recent abductions of local officials in the province, adding to concerns over the security of people travelling on roads connecting remote districts. [4] The identities of those responsible for the latest abduction remain unclear. [4] Balochistan has faced a long-running insurgency involving separatist militant groups, including the Balochistan Liberation Army, which seeks independence for the province and has claimed attacks against Pakistani security forces and state infrastructure. [4] However, no evidence has yet been made public linking a specific group to the abduction of the 20 trainees. [4] The province is rich in natural resources but remains among Pakistan’s less-developed regions. [4] Long-standing grievances over resource distribution, political representation and alleged enforced disappearances have contributed to tensions between the state and sections of the Baloch population. [4] The latest incidents underscore continuing security challenges in the province. [4]

Ongoing Investigations and Official Responses

The suspects and exhibits are in police custody, while investigations are ongoing in the Delta State cases. [2] The Commissioner of Police, CP Samuel Erale, directed all area commanders, divisional police officers and tactical commanders to intensify operations against cult groups across the state. [2] Chicago Police Department detectives never stopped searching for the girl’s killer, according to a statement sent by the agency to Fox News Digital. [3] Through the years, they worked with Illinois State Police and the FBI to continue a quest for answers. [3] Authorities said efforts were underway to locate and recover the abducted trainees in Balochistan. [4] A police official in Quetta said police and security forces launched an operation after receiving information about the attack on the police post. [4] The Chinese embassy in Thailand posted its notice to the embassy website on Friday. [1]

What to watch next: Chicago police continue to examine whether the DNA connection may lead to solving more cold cases, with a former investigator predicting there are going to be other victims linked to McInerney. [3]