The Royal Thai Police Headquarters recently held a press conference to announce the successful crackdown on a major transnational money laundering case involving a Chinese scam group, with the involved amount reaching 2.2 billion Thai Baht.
In the case, several bank employees and translators are suspected of assisting a Chinese call center gang in operating illegal accounts, involving 462 accounts and more than 2000 fraud cases.
This crackdown was led by Pol. Lt. Gen. Thatchai Pitaneelabut, Director of the Police Crime Suppression Division, in collaboration with the Metropolitan Police Bureau's Investigation Division and the Second Crime Suppression Division. The police raided a bank in Wan Lamung District, Chonburi Province, and arrested three bank employees and two translators on the spot. Investigations revealed that they provided forged documents for the Chinese scam group, assisting in the illegal opening of 15 so-called "mule accounts".
The police further traced the flow of funds, confirming that the aforementioned 15 accounts were closely linked to 462 accounts nationwide, used to carry out 2084 fraudulent acts, with a cumulative amount involved exceeding 2.2 billion Thai Baht. In March 2025 alone, these accounts had more than 118 million Thai Baht transferred in, with a total withdrawal amount of 91 million Thai Baht.
According to the police, the Chinese suspects involved mostly entered Thailand on tourist visas, quickly opened accounts with the assistance of the aforementioned bank employees, and then cashed out the proceeds of the scams before fleeing the country. Currently, the police have launched arrests nationwide, capturing several Chinese suspects, including individuals with the surnames Yang and Xia caught in the jurisdiction of the Bueng Kum Police Station, a person with the surname Hang captured in the jurisdiction of the Pawi Police Station, and a Mr. Wu arrested at the Sutthisan Police Station.
Meanwhile, the police have also applied to the court for the formal arrest of the related Thai assisting personnel. This includes three bank employees, Sirilak (surname withheld), Chutima, Songphon, and two translators, Monthida and Narongrit. They are accused of conspiring to provide electronic accounts and cards for technology crimes and money laundering activities. Chutima and Songphon also face additional charges of "assisting in fraud".
Pol. Lt. Gen. Thatchai pointed out that this case highlights the loopholes in the Thai banking system regarding the opening of accounts and electronic card supervision for foreigners. He stated that the police will urge relevant departments to strengthen scrutiny mechanisms to prevent similar incidents from happening again. They will also continue to trace the involved accounts and assets, aiming to maximize the recovery of victims' losses and severely punish the masterminds behind the scenes.
Currently, this major transnational fraud and money laundering case is still under further in-depth investigation.
