Chinese-Thai telecom fraud ring busted! 31 arrested, including 13 Chinese nationals!

On May 15, the Technical Crime Suppression Division of the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) in Thailand announced that the police had conducted a joint operation in Ban Chang district of Rayong Province, Bang Phli district of Samut Prakan Province, and Bang Lamung district of Chonburi Province, successfully dismantling a Chinese-funded criminal gang and arresting a total of 31 suspects, including 13 Chinese nationals and 18 Thais.

The gang is suspected of using residential confinement to hold "nominee account" holders for laundering money for a telecommunications fraud group. If the holders did not follow instructions, they would be beaten.

At the scene, the police seized a large amount of physical evidence and assets, including 49 bank passbooks, 49 bank cards, 66 mobile phones, 2 laptops, 3 cars, 2 motorcycles, over 1 million Thai baht in cash, and other valuable items, with a total value exceeding 6 million Thai baht.

All suspects have been charged with multiple offenses, including "jointly defrauding the public, impersonating others to jointly defraud, entering false information into computer systems through fraud, jointly laundering money, participating in organized crime, illegal possession of Class 1 narcotics (ecstasy and methamphetamine), and illegal possession of Class 2 psychotropic substances (ketamine)."