Unshaven and handcuffed, the world's most wanted suspected paedophile was paraded by Thai police before the media today after being hauled out of a remote hideout he shared with a transvestite.

Dozens of officers in Bangkok took Christopher Neil – a Canadian who allegedly placed images on the internet apparently showing him abusing boys in Cambodia and Vietnam – to the city's central police station and placed him in front of the media's flashing cameras.

The 32-year-old, from near Vancouver, was captured in the remote city of Nakhon Ratchasima, 200 miles from the Thai capital, after an unprecedented Interpol-led manhunt that had spanned the Far East.

Police said today that they tracked Mr Neil down after being tipped off by transvestites in the seaside city of Pattaya.

The transvestites – having identified him from pictures taken by security cameras at Bangkok Airport a week ago – told investigators that the suspect had fled with a 25-year-old cross-dresser called Ohm.

Thai police tracked down Ohm's real name and monitored his mobile phone calls, finally tracing the pair to a rented property in Nakhon Ratchasimam where they were both held.

Speaking at the press conference today, Mick Moran, an Interpol investigator, said that the capture sent out a powerful warning to paedophiles all over the world that abusing children in the Far East would not be tolerated.

"If you are somebody who travels to this region to abuse children, then understand, we won’t tolerate it," he said.

"The Thai police’s message is very clear today. Interpol’s message is very clear.

"We will move mountains to catch you. We will move mountains to save these children. It won’t be tolerated."

The capture marks a successful conclusion to an extraordinary worldwide internet campaign by Interpol to catch Mr Neil, using cutting-edge technology.

The search began three years ago when German police discovered photographs on the Internet which appeared to show a man sexually abusing boys in Vietnam and Cambodia.

The suspect's face had been deliberately scrambled with a digital swirling pattern, but police computer experts managed to unravel the disguise - and Interpol last month issued an appeal for information on who the man was.

More than 350 people came forward, and he was eventually identified by five sources from three different continents.

After the appeal was made, Mr Neil fled South Korea, where he was teaching, and flown to Thailand, where he was last Thursday photographed with shaven head and glasses by airport security cameras.

It is believed he went to Nakhon Ratchasima because it is a particularly remote province frequented by few tourists.

Speaking at today's press conference, Lieutenant General Pongsapat Pongcharoen said Mr Neil had so far only spoken to identify himself and had made no further comment.

"The suspect was quiet. He wasn’t agitated, he didn’t say anything at all," he said.

Thailand’s deputy national police chief, General Wongkot Maneerin, said he could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

It is not known whether Canada will request his extradition to face trial in his home country.

Times Recommends

• Rio Tinto four held as China prepares case
• Diplomats must keep heads down and trousers up
• When in Rome should one make like Berlusconi?