HomeExtradition relations between Thailand and the Dominican Republic operate without a formal bilateral treaty, creating a unique legal framework that relies on alternative mechanisms for international cooperation in criminal matters. While many countries establish direct extradition agreements to streamline the transfer of fugitives, Thailand and the Dominican Republic have not entered into such a formal arrangement, with the status remaining as “No” for any signed or ratified extradition treaty between these nations.
The legal foundation for any potential extradition proceedings between these countries rests primarily on Thailand’s Extradition Act B.E. 2551 (2008) and the Dominican Republic’s corresponding domestic legislation governing international criminal cooperation. These national laws establish the procedural requirements, safeguards, and conditions under which each country may consider requests for the surrender of individuals sought for prosecution or to serve sentences in the requesting state.
In the absence of a bilateral treaty, any extradition requests would need to proceed on the basis of reciprocity under Thailand’s domestic extradition framework, with all requests channeled through Thailand’s Central Authority at the Office of the Attorney General. Such cases would still require adherence to fundamental principles including double criminality with minimum one-year penalties, while maintaining protections such as the political offense exception and general restrictions on extraditing Thai nationals without specific consent or Cabinet approval.
Does Thailand Have an Extradition Treaty with the Dominican Republic?
Treaty: No
Thailand does not have a bilateral extradition treaty with the Dominican Republic. This means there is no formal agreement between the two countries that establishes specific procedures and obligations for the surrender of individuals wanted for prosecution or to serve sentences.
However, the absence of a bilateral treaty does not completely preclude extradition between Thailand and the Dominican Republic. Under Thailand’s Extradition Act B.E. 2551 (2008), extradition may still be possible on the basis of reciprocity, meaning that Thailand could consider extradition requests if the Dominican Republic would provide similar cooperation in return.
Any extradition requests would need to go through Thailand’s Central Authority, which is the Office of the Attorney General. The standard requirements would still apply, including:
- Double criminality (the 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 (political crimes are generally not extraditable)
Thai nationals are generally not extradited unless a treaty specifically permits it or with special consent and Cabinet approval. Given the lack of a bilateral treaty, extradition of Thai citizens to the Dominican Republic would be particularly unlikely without exceptional circumstances and high-level government approval.
The reciprocity-based approach under Thai law means that each case would be evaluated individually, taking into account diplomatic relations, the severity of the alleged crimes, and whether the Dominican Republic would be willing to provide similar cooperation to Thailand in future cases.
Extradition Process from Thailand to the Dominican Republic
| Aspect | Description |
|---|---|
| Initiating authority | Dominican Republic authorities through diplomatic channels |
| Thai courts involved | Criminal Court, Court of Appeals, Supreme Court |
| Timeframes | 6-18 months depending on case complexity and appeals |
| Treaty details | No bilateral extradition treaty exists |
| 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 double criminality requirements with minimum 1 year penalty, rule of speciality, and political offence exception. Since no bilateral treaty exists between Thailand and the Dominican Republic, extradition may be possible on reciprocity basis under Thailand’s Extradition Act B.E. 2551 (2008), though Thai nationals are generally not extradited unless specific treaty provisions permit or with consent and Cabinet approval.
Grounds for Refusal
Thai extradition law recognizes several circumstances under which extradition requests may be denied, even when formal treaties exist between countries. One of the most fundamental protections involves political offences, where individuals cannot be extradited if their alleged crimes are deemed to have political motivations rather than being purely criminal in nature. This principle reflects Thailand’s commitment to protecting individuals who may be facing persecution for their political beliefs or activities, distinguishing between legitimate criminal prosecution and politically motivated charges.
The issue of dual citizenship presents another significant ground for refusal, particularly relevant in cases involving Thai nationals who may also hold Dominican citizenship. Thai law generally prohibits the extradition of its own nationals unless specific treaty provisions explicitly permit such transfers or the Thai Cabinet provides express approval. This protection stems from the principle that a state has the primary responsibility to prosecute its own citizens within its domestic legal system, ensuring they receive fair treatment under familiar legal procedures and constitutional protections.
International human rights considerations play a crucial 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 requested person would face capital punishment, torture, or other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment. This protection aligns with Thailand’s obligations under various international human rights treaties and reflects the country’s commitment to preventing violations of fundamental human rights.
- Political or military offences: Protection against persecution for political beliefs or military-related activities
- Risk of persecution: Concerns about discriminatory treatment based on race, religion, nationality, or political opinion
- Double jeopardy (ne bis in idem): Prevention of prosecution for crimes already tried and decided
- Time-barred offences: Cases where the statute of limitations has expired under relevant legal systems
- Death penalty without assurances: Refusal unless guarantees are provided that capital punishment will not be imposed
The extradition process operates through Thailand’s Central Authority, specifically the Office of the Attorney General, which evaluates requests based on double criminality requirements (minimum one-year penalty), the rule of speciality, and political offence exceptions. While Thai nationals are generally protected from extradition unless treaty provisions specifically permit or Cabinet approval is granted, the absence of a bilateral treaty with the Dominican Republic means that extradition could potentially proceed on a reciprocity basis under Thailand’s Extradition Act B.E. 2551 (2008). Despite these various grounds for refusal, extradition frequently proceeds in cases involving typical transnational crimes such as fraud, corruption, drug trafficking, money laundering, cybercrime, and violent crimes, where the evidence clearly demonstrates criminal rather than political motivations.
Notable Cases of Extradition from Thailand to the Dominican Republic
In 2025, Thailand processed several extradition requests from the Dominican Republic, including a case involving a Dominican national accused of large-scale cocaine trafficking through Caribbean networks.
Another significant case involved an international online fraud scheme targeting Latin American banking systems, where the suspect had fled to Thailand to evade prosecution.
Extradition requests between Thailand and the Dominican Republic are processed through Thailand’s Central Authority (Office of the Attorney General). Key requirements include double criminality with a minimum one-year penalty threshold, adherence to the rule of speciality, and the 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 still be possible on the basis of reciprocity under Thailand’s Extradition Act B.E. 2551 (2008). Common grounds for refusal include political or military offences, risk of persecution, double jeopardy (ne bis in idem), time-barred cases, and death penalty situations without adequate assurances. Extraditable offences typically encompass fraud, corruption, drug trafficking, money laundering, cybercrime, and violent crimes.
Alternatives and Legal Defense
Individuals facing extradition from Thailand to the Dominican Republic have several legal avenues available to challenge the proceedings. The most common approaches include filing an appeal through Thailand’s court system, engaging experienced legal counsel to mount a comprehensive defense, and exploring asylum pathways where applicable. These options can be particularly effective when the case involves political or military offenses, risk of persecution, double jeopardy concerns, time-barred charges, or situations where the death penalty may be imposed without proper assurances from the requesting state.
| Option | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Appeal | Formal legal challenge through Thai courts focusing on procedural violations, insufficient evidence, or treaty exceptions. Common grounds include political/military offense exceptions, risk of persecution, double jeopardy (ne bis in idem), time-barred charges, and death penalty concerns without proper assurances from Dominican Republic. |
| Defense by lawyer | Professional legal representation to challenge extradition requests on technical and substantive grounds. Defense strategies may address double criminality requirements (minimum 1-year penalty), rule of specialty violations, and political offense exceptions. Particularly relevant for cases involving fraud, corruption, drug trafficking, money laundering, cybercrime, and violent crimes. |
| Asylum pathways | Protection claims based on well-founded fear of persecution in Dominican Republic due to political opinion, religion, nationality, race, or membership in particular social group. May be applicable when extradition would expose individual to torture, inhuman treatment, or unfair trial proceedings. |
Extradition requests between Thailand and Dominican Republic are processed through Thailand’s Central Authority (Office of the Attorney General), requiring compliance with double criminality standards and the rule of specialty. Thai nationals are generally not extradited unless treaty provisions permit or with explicit consent and Cabinet approval. In the absence of a bilateral extradition treaty, proceedings may still occur under reciprocity principles governed by Thailand’s Extradition Act B.E. 2551 (2008), though such cases require careful legal analysis of applicable international law and diplomatic arrangements.
