Bangkok: Cyber police have successfully dismantled a gang involved in laundering money for a Chinese call center group following internal conflicts that led to data leakage. The operation uncovered damages valued at over 24 million baht.
According to Thai News Agency, Pol. Lt. Gen. Trirong Phiwpaen, Commander of the Technology Crime Suppression Division (TCSD), announced the operation's results. The gang's activities came to light after a disagreement among members resulted in information being leaked to law enforcement. The investigation identified Mr. Tee, a man residing in Laos with proficiency in Thai and Chinese, as the key figure who contacted a group of Thais to facilitate money laundering. His role included opening mule accounts to receive transfers from call center operations, with subsequent face scanning and money withdrawals to pass along to other gang members.
Further investigations led police to a dormitory in Khlong Nueng Subdistrict, Pathum Thani Province, where several Thai associates were residing. Authorities discovered one bank account linked to the gang, with initial damages estimated at 24 million baht. A police search of three rooms yielded the arrests of Mr. Nantapong, Mr. Phatthakan, Mr. Thanin, and Mr. Jiradech, along with the seizure of ATM cards, bankbooks, and numerous mobile phones.
Upon interrogation, the suspects admitted to withdrawing cash from multiple bank accounts under their names at the direction of a Chinese call center gang, with orders relayed through a Thai leader who has since absconded. They earned 2,000 baht per day in addition to a salary for their involvement. Authorities are prosecuting the suspects and expanding the investigation to capture additional gang members.
In related operations, police from Division 4, Technology Crime Investigation Division 1, apprehended Mr. Max and three others for smuggling e-cigarettes and foreign tobacco via the YASOOBVIBES website. Mr. Max confessed to his involvement in the online sale of these products for 7-8 months, generating monthly revenues between 200,000 and 300,000 baht. The operation employed three individuals for packaging duties, each receiving 9,000 baht per month.
Moreover, police arrested two administrators of the gambling website GOATBETMETA, which has an annual turnover exceeding 60 million baht. They also detained administrators of a group exploiting students for obscene photo distribution, and a nun implicated in an online scam, with damages nearing 60,000 baht.