PATTAYA, Thailand – Thai authorities have arrested a Chinese national believed to be a major figure in a transnational online gambling network linked to the controversial Shwe Kokko complex in Myanmar, following a raid in Pattaya, April 9.
The suspect, identified as Bei Minxue, was apprehended by a joint team of commando police and immigration officers outside a residence in Jomtien Soi 14. He was wanted under an arrest warrant issued by authorities in China and had previously had his permission to stay in Thailand revoked.
Investigators say Bei was a key operator behind a large-scale online gambling operation run across at least 239 digital platforms, with more than 330,000 users spanning 31 provinces in China. The network is believed to have generated illicit turnover of approximately 2.775 billion yuan, or around 13.18 billion baht, making it one of the more significant cases uncovered in recent years.
Further investigation revealed that the suspect allegedly played a leading role in a wider criminal syndicate connected to Shwe Kokko, a development area along the Myanmar border that has been linked to cross-border gambling and other illicit activities. Authorities say the network has been active since 2016 and has generated at least 2.4 billion baht in illegal profits.
Officials also uncovered efforts by the suspect to conceal his identity and evade law enforcement. Travel records show that he departed Thailand for Vientiane in May 2024 using a Chinese passport, before secretly re-entering Thailand in August 2025 using a passport from Saint Kitts and Nevis. However, biometric facial recognition checks confirmed he was the same individual.
The suspect has been transferred to immigration investigators in Bangkok for legal processing. Authorities are currently coordinating with the Chinese Embassy to arrange his extradition to face prosecution under the outstanding warrant issued by police in Zhenjiang.
Thai police say the arrest underscores ongoing efforts to crack down on transnational crime networks using Thailand as a base of operations, particularly those linked to online gambling and financial crimes.
