Bangkok: Central Investigation Police have successfully dismantled a Chinese gang involved in forging illegal ID cards and operating a money laundering company in Myawaddy and Poipet. The gang, which had deceived Chinese citizens out of tens of billions, was apprehended with red notices against them.
According to Thai News Agency, the operation was announced by Pol. Gen. Thatchai Pitaneelabut, Inspector-General of the Royal Thai Police, alongside Pol. Lt. Gen. Jirabhop Phuridet, Commander-in-Chief of the Central Investigation Bureau, and Pol. Col. Suriyasak Jarawat, Superintendent of the 3rd Division of the Crime Suppression Division. The authorities arrested Mr. Lee, a 43-year-old Chinese national, and his gang for their role in forging ID cards to extort money, resulting in damages amounting to tens of billions of baht. The arrested individuals include Ms. Ae, a 30-year-old Burmese national, and four Thai nationals who are already imprisoned for other offenses.
Mr. Lee had previously fled to Thailand after committing fraud worth more than 3 billion yuan (approximately 14 billion baht) in China in 2019. Entering Thailand on a tourist visa in 2021, he and his wife obtained Thai nationality through fraudulent means, enabling him to live and operate freely like a citizen. Mr. Lee later established a company in Samut Prakan Province with the help of Thai nominees. Investigations revealed the company was a front with no actual business operations, sharing its address with 14 other companies, and employing individuals who were hired merely to register the company.
The Crime Suppression Division's 3rd Division collected sufficient evidence to issue six arrest warrants from 11 search locations across seven provinces. Mr. Lee and his wife, Mrs. Ae, were among those apprehended, facing charges of fraud and violations of the Computer Crime Act. The involved police officers were charged with extortion, having reportedly engaged in similar criminal activities in the past, including kidnapping and extorting Chinese nationals using fake ID cards.
Further investigations disclosed that the company, backed by Thai nominees, had a turnover exceeding 400-500 million baht in the previous year. Authorities are expanding the investigation and plan to issue 18 additional arrest warrants as they work to uncover more individuals connected to the operation.