PATTAYA, Thailand – Thai police have arrested a 30-year-old Chinese national wanted in China on fraud and money-laundering charges after allegedly using Thailand as a base to help move more than 8.8 million baht linked to a scam network. The suspect, identified only as Mr Zhang, was arrested on August 14 at a condominium in Nongprue, Banglamung, Chonburi, following a joint operation involving the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) and Chonburi Immigration Police. He was also found to have overstayed his permission to remain in Thailand.
Investigators said Zhang allegedly operated at a senior level within the network, recruiting and directing members to use ATM cards and bank accounts to withdraw and transfer money obtained through fraud. The arrangement was intended to obscure the money trail and make it more difficult for authorities to identify those behind the operation.
Police said their investigation found that Zhang travelled to Thailand during 2023 and 2024 to meet associates and establish the country as an operational base. Members of the network allegedly rotated the use of personal bank accounts to receive proceeds from scams before other members withdrew large amounts of cash and moved the money through the network.
The investigation traced transactions totaling about 1.8 million yuan, or more than 8.8 million baht, according to police.
Zhang allegedly fled China after learning that authorities there were preparing to issue an arrest warrant. Investigators said he travelled through Japan before entering Thailand in March 2025, where he remained in hiding. Thai investigators from the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) later received information that the suspect was staying in Pattaya. Officers coordinated with Chonburi Immigration Police and eventually located and arrested him at the condominium.
During questioning, police said Zhang admitted to using Thailand as a base for laundering money connected to the scam network and acknowledged that he had been hiding in Thailand after being pursued by Chinese authorities. He was handed over to Immigration Police for further legal proceedings, with authorities preparing to deport him and return him to China to face the charges there.
