Bangkok: Tourist police have successfully arrested three Vietnamese nationals allegedly operating an illegal loan business that targeted compatriots with exorbitant interest rates. The arrests took place in the Rom Klao area, where the suspects used an iCloud locking system to control customers' phones if they defaulted on payments.
According to Thai News Agency, the suspects were identified as Mr. Ngo Van Long, 25, Mr. Hoang Trung Tran, 21, and Mr. Dang Van Ngan, 19. They were charged with several offenses, including working without a permit and operating an illegal personal loan business. The arrests were made following a search warrant issued by the Min Buri Criminal Court, after an investigation revealed the gang's illegal operations in the Khlong Song Ton Nun Subdistrict, Lat Krabang District.
The crackdown aligns with the National Audit Office's policy to curb illegal activities by foreigners involved in transnational crimes. During the investigation, police found the suspects using computers to run their loan business, which targeted Vietnamese customers without work permits. The suspects allegedly used Facebook to advertise their services, collecting personal data from potential clients and controlling their phone usage through iCloud accounts.
If clients defaulted, the suspects reportedly locked the iCloud accounts, rendering the phones unusable. This tactic is considered a serious offense in Vietnam due to ongoing law enforcement crackdowns. The illegal operations were conducted from Thailand, where the suspects had entered without proper authorization.
Further evidence from the suspects' computers revealed a loan scheme involving 2.2 billion dong, approximately 2,750,000 baht. Customers were required to repay loans via a Vietnamese bank account under the name Nguyen Dinh Lab. The repayment terms included a 29-month contract with daily installments, and the interest imposed exceeded legal limits.
The investigation also uncovered that Ngo Van Long had been working in the operation for two months, earning 20,000 baht. He invited Hoang Trung Tran and Dang Van Ngan to join, who each earned between 10,000 to 20,000 baht over the same period.
The suspects have been taken to the Rom Klao Police Station for further legal proceedings.