In recent years, as Thailand has become an important international tourism and trade hub in Southeast Asia, the activities of Chinese citizens in Thailand have become increasingly frequent.
However, behind this, many Chinese have been involved in illegal activities, such as illegal smuggling, transnational fraud, online gambling, and smuggling.
With the implementation of the gambling ban in the Philippines, Thailand has seen a large influx of people from the Philippines, involving all sorts of people, and issues such as smuggling and online gambling have increased. Just recently, several incidents have occurred.
(1) Impersonating a high official for fraud On November 26, the chief of the Bangkok Metropolitan Police ordered the arrest of a 27-year-old Thai man, Tanaji (transliterated), who impersonated the son of a high official to defraud Chinese citizens of over a million Thai baht. This case reveals the phenomenon of Chinese citizens being deceived by criminals using "bail relationships" as an excuse due to their lack of understanding of Thai legal procedures.
(2) Smuggling and cross-border crime In Chiang Rai Province, a Chinese man sought police help after being attacked, leading to the exposure of a cross-border smuggling gang. The police arrested several illegal Chinese entrants and discovered that the gang used the Thai-Myanmar border to transport smuggled people from Myanmar to Thailand and then to other locations. Similar cases also occurred in the Thai-Myanmar border area, where troops arrested 5 Chinese citizens attempting to enter illegally, revealing the complex chain of illegal smuggling activities.
(3) Online gambling crime On November 27, the police acted simultaneously at three target locations and cracked down on a transnational online gambling gang led by Taiwanese, attracting a large number of Thai and mainland Chinese players, with monthly financial flows reaching tens of millions of Thai baht. The crime network operates in Thailand's relatively lax regulatory environment, exposing the potential threat of cybercrime to the societies of both China and Thailand.
(4) Smuggling of controlled goods On November 25, the Thai Minister of Industry ordered a search of a warehouse of a Chinese-funded trading company that illegally imported controlled goods. These uncertified products were distributed through the Thai market, not only violating trade regulations but also threatening consumer safety, showing the problem of some Chinese enterprises engaging in illegal business activities in Thailand.
Why are there so many crimes related to Chinese people in Thailand?
Firstly, the legal differences and lack of cultural awareness between China and Thailand mean that Chinese citizens are easily deceived by criminals or involved in illegal activities themselves. For example, in the case of impersonating a high official, the victim did not resolve the issue through legal channels but was deceived by the promise of a "relationship network". The Thai people involved in the case probably also understand the Chinese well, using the "relationship network" as bait for fraud, which is highly successful.
Secondly, Thailand's geographical location and policy environment Thailand is located in the center of Southeast Asia, bordering countries like Myanmar, providing geographical convenience for smuggling and illegal trade. Infamous dog pushing areas, such as Myawaddy, are located at the border between Myanmar and Thailand. Many dog pushers, in order to escape the area, take risks and cross the border into Thailand under the guise of smuggling, hoping to be deported back to their country and escape the clutches of the scam parks. (Escape from the scam parks! See how dog pushers struggle to survive!)
Thirdly, as a major tourist country, Chinese tourists make up a significant proportion of visitors to Thailand. Where there is demand, there is a market. Therefore, there are many companies catering to Chinese people in terms of dining, hotels, shopping, etc. With more people involved, it is inevitable that some will take shortcuts.
Moreover, Thailand's relatively lax regulation in the gambling and economic activities also attracts some Chinese involved in illegal activities. Especially with the recent POGO ban in the Philippines, nearly one-third of those leaving the Philippines are heading to Thailand, followed by Laos.
Furthermore, compared to the Philippines, Thailand's cuisine seems to be more suited to the Chinese palate, and the security situation is significantly better. (Of course, there are pros and cons. While it is less likely to encounter kidnapping cases, increased security also means one must be cautious of police raids.)
Although it may be hard to believe, Thailand's medical conditions are actually ranked very high globally. Therefore, it is not surprising that many online gambling gangs choose Thailand as their base, taking advantage of its convenient conditions.
Additionally, the relatively lax control of marijuana and the presence of red-light districts are also reasons some Chinese choose to go to Thailand.
Ultimately, it all comes down to economic drive and the lure of high returns. No matter what the activity, it is driven by economic interests, whether it's the high salaries in the gambling industry, the high income from smuggling activities (charging thousands to tens of thousands of Thai baht per person), the high profits from counterfeit products, or the high efficiency of service industries that involve some deception. These are all interests, tempting some to take risks.
Legal loopholes and the loopholes in illegal networks also provide opportunities for those with intentions. It is said that many illegal smuggling gangs operate through multi-layered organizations, greatly increasing their concealment, making them difficult to combat.
Finally, it is essential to understand more about Thai laws and social culture, and not to actively engage in illegal activities. After all, the ultimate goal of striving abroad is to earn money. Always remember the initial intention and not be too ostentatious.
Hopefully, everyone can achieve good income in Thailand and safely return home.
