The Democrat Party reveals a blueprint of a scammer gang laundering drug money through luxury entertainment venues and mala restaurants as fronts, using Thai nominees. They urge the Anti-Money Laundering Committee and DSI to act swiftly to eradicate the network.
On 22 May 2026 at the Democrat Party headquarters, Mr. Victory Deddecho, Deputy Leader of the Democrat Party, held a vigorous press conference saying that after launching the party’s "Democrat Party Volunteer Lawyer Clinic" project, they recently received critical top-secret tips from a concerned citizen about a grey Chinese capital network infiltrating and undermining Thailand’s economic system through illicit activities.
Mr. Victory disclosed that intelligence reveals a grey Chinese capital operation closely linked to an international scammer gang laundering money obtained from fraud and illegal businesses by running front enterprises in prominent Bangkok economic zones, including Ratchadaphisek Road, Mengjai, and RCA. These fronts include luxury entertainment venues, KTV pubs, mala restaurants, and Chinese supermarkets to deceive authorities.
The deputy party leader noted suspicious details in the registration process: this operation hires Thai nationals as "nominees" to hold shares on their behalf. However, financial statements submitted to the Department of Business Development show clear inconsistencies, as reported income does not align with actual investments ranging from 30 to 100 million baht per establishment. Furthermore, some venues operate without licenses, stay open beyond legal hours, and serve as hubs for drug use.
Mr. Victory also revealed the network’s structure, focusing on a Thai individual with the initial "R.", known in the circle as the "horse stable owner," who supplies mule accounts and recruits Thai nominees for the grey Chinese capital group. Investigations found that this person was prosecuted for illegal entry into Cambodia in 2020 and is currently hiding in Nonthaburi Province. He has amassed unusually vast wealth, including luxury homes worth over 20 million baht and several luxury cars, with assets transferred to relatives to evade government scrutiny.
"We cannot allow grey capital to destroy our economic system and flout Thai laws like this. Thai law must be law, not something money can buy," Mr. Victory said. He confirmed that he will gather all evidence, confidential documents, and network diagrams to submit to Mr. Pitakdej Deddecho, MP for Nakhon Si Thammarat and chairman of the House Committee on Anti-Money Laundering and Drug Suppression, to coordinate handing them over to security agencies and the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) for field inspections, asset seizures, and to completely eradicate this grey Chinese capital network.