CHIANG MAI – Thai authorities have apprehended several suspects linked to two separate Chinese-led online fraud networks, following coordinated crackdowns on cybercrime. Police General Thatchai Pitaneelabutr, head of the Royal Thai Police Cyber Taskforce, confirmed the operation’s breakthrough at a press briefing.

High-End Villa Raided in Hang Dong

On July 1, a luxury pool villa in Ban Waen, Hang Dong district, was raided by a multi-agency task force following intelligence on an online gambling and investment scam targeting retired Chinese citizens aged 60–80. Authorities discovered:

• 17 suspects detained: 14 Chinese nationals and 3 Myanmar individuals
• Seizure of 10 desktop PCs and 26 mobile phones
• Evidence of call-center operations that lured victims into bogus investment apps and gambling schemes )

Region 5 Police estimate losses exceed 100 million yuan (~500 million baht), with 100,000+ victims affected.

Student Visa Exploitation Uncovered

The suspects reportedly entered Thailand on tourist or student visas and could not name any attending schools. An investigation revealed that over 13,000 Chinese received student visas from just five Chiang Mai universities, many of which were never attended.

Second Bust: Money Mules at Shopping Mall

In a related operation, Chiang Mai Provincial Police detained three individuals—two Chinese men and one Thai woman—involved in money mule operations after a dispute outside an ATM revealed 2.6 million baht in cash. The money mules withdrew fraudulently obtained funds on behalf of the network leader.

Nationwide Cybercrime Crackdown

Following a July 18 meeting, authorities intensified cybercrime suppression efforts nationwide. Measures include enhanced monitoring of suspicious financial transactions, tighter border controls, and crackdowns on misuse of student visas. Gen Pitaneelabutr emphasized:

“The key to combating online crime is intercepting it at the source,” including visa abuse and money laundering, particularly through money mule accounts.

Authorities are collaborating with the Chinese consulate to validate suspects’ identities and are widening the probe into cross-border fraud networks.

Regional Context

Thailand’s actions align with intensified regional efforts: neighboring Cambodia recently detained over 1,000 suspects in cyber-scam operations, while Myanmar’s northern border remains a hub for trafficking and telecom fraud. The sophistication and persistence of crime rings have placed Thailand under global scrutiny.

Dismantling criminal network

All Chiang Mai suspects face charges of public fraud, computer crimes, money laundering, and operating as part of transnational criminal organizations. Investigators are working to dismantle the full criminal network, tracing connections to visa issuers, money mule operators, and the mastermind based in China. (zai)

Sources:  White House, Japan Government, Reuters
Photo: Japan Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba