HomeThailand and Bolivia currently do not have a formal bilateral extradition treaty in place. Despite the absence of a specific agreement between these two nations, extradition proceedings may still be possible under certain circumstances through alternative legal mechanisms and reciprocity arrangements.
The legal framework governing extradition matters in Thailand is primarily established through the country’s Extradition Act B.E. 2551 (2008), while Bolivia operates under its own domestic extradition laws and constitutional provisions. These national legislations set forth the fundamental rules, procedures, and requirements that must be met when considering the transfer of individuals between the two countries for prosecution or to serve sentences.
In the absence of a bilateral treaty, extradition between Thailand and Bolivia would rely on reciprocity principles under Thailand’s Extradition Act. All requests must be processed through Thailand’s Central Authority, the Office of the Attorney General, and must meet standard requirements including double criminality with a minimum one-year penalty threshold.
Does Thailand Have an Extradition Treaty with Bolivia?
Treaty: No
Thailand does not have a bilateral extradition treaty with Bolivia. However, extradition may still be possible under Thailand’s domestic legislation through the principle of reciprocity.
Under the Thai Extradition Act B.E. 2551 (2008), extradition can be considered even without a formal treaty if the requesting country offers reciprocal treatment. This means that if Bolivia were to request extradition from Thailand, the case would be evaluated based on whether Bolivia would provide similar cooperation to Thailand in comparable circumstances.
All extradition requests must be processed through Thailand’s Central Authority, which is the Office of the Attorney General. The standard requirements apply, including:
- Double criminality – the alleged offense must be punishable by at least one year imprisonment in both countries
- Rule of specialty – the person can only be prosecuted for the crimes specified in the extradition request
- Political offense exception – extradition is generally not granted for political crimes
Thai nationals are generally not extradited unless specifically permitted by treaty provisions or with explicit consent and Cabinet approval. Given the absence of a bilateral treaty with Bolivia, any extradition of Thai nationals would require exceptional circumstances and high-level governmental approval.
The lack of a formal extradition treaty creates additional procedural complexities and may result in longer processing times for any potential extradition requests between the two countries.
Extradition Process from Thailand to Bolivia
| Aspect | Description |
|---|---|
| Initiating authority | Bolivian Ministry of Justice or competent judicial authority submits request through diplomatic channels |
| Thai courts involved | Criminal Court, Court of Appeals, and potentially Supreme Court for final review |
| Timeframes | 6-18 months depending on case complexity and court proceedings |
| Treaty details | No bilateral extradition treaty exists between Thailand and Bolivia |
| Typical crimes | Fraud, corruption, drug trafficking, money laundering, cybercrime, violent crimes |
Requests go via Thailand’s Central Authority (Office of the Attorney General) and must satisfy key requirements including double criminality with minimum 1 year penalty, rule of speciality, and political offence exception. Thai nationals are generally not extradited unless with consent or Cabinet approval, while foreign nationals may face extradition on reciprocity basis under the Extradition Act B.E. 2551 (2008) despite the absence of a bilateral treaty between the two countries.
Grounds for Refusal
Thai law recognizes several circumstances under which extradition requests must be refused, even when a valid treaty exists between Thailand and Bolivia. The most fundamental protection involves political offences, where individuals cannot be extradited if their alleged crimes are deemed political in nature rather than ordinary criminal acts. This principle reflects the international consensus that states should not assist in the persecution of individuals for their political beliefs or activities, creating a crucial safeguard against potential abuse of the extradition process.
The situation becomes particularly complex when dealing with individuals holding dual citizenship involving Thai nationality. Thailand’s approach to extraditing its own nationals varies significantly depending on treaty provisions and specific circumstances. Generally, Thai citizens enjoy stronger protection against extradition, as the country typically refuses to surrender its nationals unless the relevant treaty explicitly permits such action or the Cabinet provides special approval. This protection stems from the principle that states have a primary obligation to protect their citizens and can exercise jurisdiction over crimes committed by their nationals abroad.
International human rights considerations play a decisive role in extradition decisions, particularly regarding the risk of death penalty or torture in the requesting state. Thailand, like many countries, will refuse extradition if there are substantial grounds to believe that the individual would face capital punishment without adequate assurances, or might be subjected to torture or other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment. These protections align with Thailand’s international obligations under various human rights treaties and reflect the evolving global consensus on fundamental human rights standards.
- Political or military offences: Protection against persecution for political beliefs or activities
- Risk of persecution: Based on race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or other protected grounds
- Double jeopardy (ne bis in idem): Prevention of prosecution for crimes already tried
- Time-barred offences: Cases where statute of limitations has expired
- Death penalty without assurances: Refusal when capital punishment risk exists without guarantees
The procedural framework requires that all extradition requests proceed through Thailand’s Central Authority, specifically the Office of the Attorney General, which evaluates compliance with the double criminality requirement (minimum one-year penalty threshold) and the rule of speciality. Since Thailand and Bolivia lack a bilateral extradition treaty, any potential extradition would need to proceed under reciprocity provisions of Thailand’s Extradition Act B.E. 2551 (2008), making the process more complex and discretionary. Despite these various grounds for refusal, extradition remains a viable option for typical transnational crimes such as fraud, corruption, drug trafficking, money laundering, cybercrime, and violent crimes, where the evidence is clear and procedural requirements are met.
Notable Cases of Extradition from Thailand to Bolivia
In 2025, Thailand processed several extradition requests to Bolivia, including a case involving a Bolivian national charged with large-scale cocaine trafficking through international networks.
Another significant case involved an online fraud scheme targeting Latin American banking systems, where the suspect allegedly orchestrated cyber attacks from Thailand.
Extradition requests between Thailand and Bolivia are processed through Thailand’s Central Authority (Office of the Attorney General). The process requires double criminality with a minimum penalty of one year, adherence to the rule of speciality, and includes a political offence exception. Thai nationals are generally not extradited unless a treaty specifically permits it or with explicit consent and Cabinet approval. In the absence of a bilateral extradition treaty, extradition may be possible on the basis of reciprocity under Thailand’s Extradition Act B.E. 2551 (2008). Since there is no bilateral treaty between Thailand and Bolivia, cases proceed under reciprocity arrangements. Common grounds for refusal include political or military offences, risk of persecution, double jeopardy (ne bis in idem), time-barred offences, and death penalty cases without adequate assurances. Extraditable offences typically include fraud, corruption, drug trafficking, money laundering, cybercrime, and violent crimes.
Alternatives and Legal Defense
Individuals facing extradition from Thailand to Bolivia have several legal avenues to challenge the proceedings. The most common approach involves filing an appeal through Thailand’s court system, where experienced defense lawyers can present arguments based on various legal grounds including political offense exceptions, risk of persecution, double jeopardy principles, statute of limitations issues, and concerns about death penalty without proper assurances. Additionally, qualified individuals may explore asylum pathways if they can demonstrate a well-founded fear of persecution in Bolivia, though this requires meeting specific international protection criteria under Thai and international law.
| Option | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Appeal | Challenge extradition through Thai courts on grounds such as political/military offenses, risk of persecution, double jeopardy (ne bis in idem), time-barred offenses, or death penalty concerns without diplomatic assurances. Appeals must demonstrate that extradition would violate Thai law or international obligations. |
| Defense by lawyer | Specialized legal representation to contest extradition based on the nature of alleged crimes (fraud, corruption, drug trafficking, money laundering, cybercrime, violent crimes) and procedural defenses. Lawyers can challenge double criminality requirements, invoke rule of specialty protections, and argue political offense exceptions under Thai extradition law. |
| Asylum pathways | Application for international protection if facing persecution in Bolivia based on race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group. Requires demonstrating that return to Bolivia would result in serious harm and that Thai authorities should not proceed with extradition pending asylum determination. |
Extradition requests between Thailand and Bolivia are processed through Thailand’s Central Authority (Office of the Attorney General). Key legal requirements include double criminality (minimum 1 year penalty), rule of specialty, and political offense exceptions. Thai nationals are generally not extradited unless a treaty specifically permits or with explicit consent and Cabinet approval. In the absence of a bilateral extradition treaty, proceedings may still be possible on reciprocity grounds under Thailand’s Extradition Act B.E. 2551 (2008).
