Department of Special Investigation (DSI) director general Sombat Amornwiwat said such a move could allow the aliens to seek an identification card and stand a better chance of getting Thai citizenship.

"If they get Thai citizenship, they can request DNA tests for their relatives who will then be able to be naturalised too," Sombat said, adding that such a scenario could affect the country's security.

According to DSI investigation, an alien was generally asked to pay between Bt5,000 and Bt8,000 to have his or her name included in the available household registrations. Up to nine C8level officials - whose passwords were used to enter the alien names  and about 75 other accomplices including kamnans, village heads and local people were suspected of playing a role in the offences.

"The money in this corrupt scam can be as much as Bt35million," Sombat said, adding that DSI has now asked the Anti MoneyLaundering Office (Amlo) to investigate the finances and financial transactions of the suspects.

From March 2003 to September last year, the Mae Taeng District Office's registration bureau added 5,014 names to the household registrations.

DSI said only six names were added in line with bureaucratic rules.

The Nation