Cyber police announced results of an expanded operation against a Chinese scam gang that video-called and threatened a 19-year-old student, ordering him to break into his mother’s safe and steal valuables, with total damages exceeding 11 million baht.
At 11:00 a.m. on 13 July 2026, at the Technology Crime Suppression Division headquarters in Muang Thong Thani, Pak Kret District, Nonthaburi Province, Pol. Maj. Gen. Thinkorn Rangmat, Deputy Commander of the division, Pol. Maj. Gen. Chatpandkan Klaiklueang, Deputy Commander, Pol. Maj. Gen. Siriwat Deepor, Commander of Division 1, Pol. Maj. Gen. Kritchat Bamrungrattanasot, Commander of Division 4, and Pol. Maj. Gen. Songklod Krikkritaya, Commander of the Technology Crime Suppression Division, jointly announced the results of an expanded operation against a Chinese scam gang that video-called and threatened a 19-year-old student, ordering him to break into his mother’s safe and steal valuables. Three suspects were arrested and assets worth more than 11 million baht were seized.
Pol. Maj. Gen. Chatpandkan stated that this case originated on 19 November 2025 when a 19-year-old male student from Samut Prakan Province was contacted by a scam gang posing as DSI agents. They forced him to stay on video calls 24 hours a day, falsely accusing him of involvement in a money laundering case. The victim was deceived and threatened to break open his mother’s safe and take all valuables, including over 50 baht weight of gold bars, gold necklaces, diamond-studded jewelry, gold-encased amulets, and other items his mother had kept. Following the criminals’ orders, he was instructed to place the assets on the roadside in Nonthaburi Province, with a total value exceeding 6.8 million baht.
Pol. Col. Wisarut Jansuwan, Commander of Investigation Division 1, led the investigation team to review CCTV footage and gather evidence from various sources, including financial transaction routes of those involved. They discovered the operation was well-organized with clearly divided roles: conducting phone scams, receiving assets, transporting valuables, selling assets, and laundering the illicit proceeds to conceal their origin. After the victim’s assets were handed over as instructed, the gang sold gold and other valuables in multiple locations, converting the cash proceeds into digital currency, specifically USDT, to obscure the trail and avoid detection.
The investigation team tracked and arrested one Chinese man, Mr. Qin Hao, 31, who was responsible for collecting the assets left near trash bins in Bang Phlab Subdistrict, Pak Kret District, Nonthaburi Province. They also obtained arrest warrants for two other Chinese suspects: Mr. Huang Jiyi, 31, who drove accomplices to various locations and sold gold at jewelry stores, and Mr. Zhang Haiqing, 32, who managed and supervised the stolen assets. Both remain at large.
Authorities seized and froze some assets including gold bars and melted gold valued at approximately 3.5 million baht, one mobile phone, and two cars, along with other evidence linking the crimes to several foreign nationals involved in the operation.
Further in-depth investigations identified more accomplices. After gathering evidence, police obtained search warrants from Pathum Thani Provincial Court for two residences in Suan Prikthai Subdistrict, Mueang District, Pathum Thani Province. Searches recovered cash amounting to 3,800,000 baht, two mobile phones, 100 kilograms of pure silver marked 'Silver 99.99% Premium Quality Silver,' and one Mercedes-Benz S500e car, totaling assets worth over 11 million baht.
From these searches and additional evidence analysis, police gained clearer insight into the financial flows, especially how cash proceeds from selling the victim’s stolen assets were converted into digital assets, meeting criteria for money laundering activities.
Pol. Maj. Gen. Chatpandkan added that in late June, investigators compiled evidence and obtained arrest warrants from the Criminal Court for three more suspects: Mr. Zheng Likul, 39, a Chinese national who converted cash into digital assets; Ms. Suda Songwattanavanit, 31, who also converted cash to digital assets; and Mr. Houzhi Zhou, 47, a Chinese national who transferred 218,350 USDT digital coins to Mr. Zheng Likul.
Recently, Pol. Col. Khajorn Obthong, Deputy Commander of Division 2, and Pol. Col. Kunapayo Areeratnatorn, Commander of the Intelligence and Special Tools Unit, led forces to arrest all three suspects on charges of conspiracy to launder money and money laundering.
From this operation, police have arrested four key suspects—three Chinese nationals and one Thai—and issued additional warrants for others involved. Investigations continue to identify and apprehend further accomplices.