The Royal Thai Police (RTP) has instructed security agencies nationwide to be on high alert for Iranian spies who may be in the southeastern Asian region, The Bangkok Post reported on Monday.

The report comes a week after Israel issued a rare travel warning to Turkey, saying that there is a “real threat” to Israelis in the country. Turkey and Thailand are both popular tourist destinations among Israelis.

A Thai police source told The Bangkok Post that security officials are keeping a close watch on Iranian nationals and Thai Muslims who are suspected of being Iranian operatives.

According to the report, Thai security officials cited an incident that happened last year in Indonesia, when a man carrying a fake Bulgarian passport was arrested in the airport just before departing for Qatar. The man, named Ghassem Saberi Gilchalan, was carrying 11 mobile phones, and Indonesian authorities found the names of prominent Shi’ite Thai Muslims among his contacts. During his interrogation, Gilchalan confessed that he had been recruited for espionage missions by a former Iranian diplomat in Malaysia.

Gilchalan and the former diplomat had visited Thailand several times and met with Thai Muslims who have close ties with Iran.

“The exposure of Gilchalan has caused a stir among several countries which are worrying about Iran’s secret operations and spies, which are perceived to be a national security threat by each country,” the source said. “Such operations may also be taking place in Southeast Asian countries, including Thailand.”

Channel 12 News reported on Sunday night that Israel may issue travel warnings to additional countries.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)