🗓️ Saturday, February 20, 2026
📍 Nonthaburi, Thailand

🐉 Dragon Dance… or Secret Police Operation?

During Lunar New Year celebrations in Nonthaburi, festival-goers thought they were watching a normal dragon dance. They weren’t. Inside the bright red dragon costume were Thai police officers — and they weren’t there to celebrate. They were there to catch a thief.

🏠 What Happened?

A 33-year-old man is accused of breaking into the home of a senior police officer in the suburbs of Bangkok. Investigators found signs of forced entry and discovered that two 12-inch Buddha statues were stolen. In total, the missing items were worth about 2 million baht (£47,500). The suspect allegedly returned to the house later but ran away after being spotted.

🕵️‍♂️ The Suspect: “Jojo the Outlaw”

Police traced some of the stolen Buddhist artefacts to a man nicknamed “Jojo the Outlaw,” who was known to spend time around temples in Bang Bua Thong, Nonthaburi. Officers had previously tried to arrest him at a temple, but he became suspicious and escaped before they could detain him.

🎭 Operation: Dragon Trap

With Lunar New Year crowds filling the streets, officers came up with a creative plan. They dressed as members of a traditional dragon dance troupe and blended in with the festival atmosphere. Instead of performing for the crowd, they waited patiently near a temple area. This time, the disguise worked — and the suspect was finally arrested.