Bangkok:Police have launched a major operation in central Bangkok as part of Phase 8 of their crackdown on foreign nominee networks, targeting four luxury villages and conducting searches at 17 locations. The operation resulted in the arrest of suspects wanted on Red Notices, Interpol notices, and by scammers pursued by Chinese authorities, with assets worth over 6 billion baht seized.
According to Thai News Agency, Police General Samran Nuanma, Commissioner General of the Royal Thai Police, and Police Lieutenant General Nophasil Phoolsawat, Commissioner of the Immigration Bureau, spearheaded the operation named "Dismantling the Foreign Nominee Network in 4 Luxury Housing Projects." The raids occurred in Bang Na, Suan Luang, Rama 9, Srinakarin, and Bangkok Kreetha areas.
The investigation discovered that a foreign network was using companies to hold properties valued at 6 billion baht. As a result, 86 arrest warrants were issued for foreign nationals, leading to the arrest of 11 suspects, which included 10 Chinese nationals and 1 American national.
The raids revealed four luxury housing projects in the Bangna-Suan Luang, Bangna-Outer Ring Road, Rama 9-Srinakarin, and Bangkok Kreetha areas. In total, 94 houses and land covering over 33 rai were confiscated from 95 companies held by Thai nominees. Authorities detained 96 suspects, while investigators are managing 95 cases. The Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) joined the operation due to the discovery of related assets, including houses and land exceeding 6 billion baht in value.
Among the key suspects identified was Mr. Li, who entered Thailand in 2017 without any red notices from China. He later committed murders resulting in three deaths in China and confessed to involvement in online gambling in Myawaddy and Shwe Kokko. Afterward, he traveled to Cambodia to obtain a passport before entering Thailand to purchase properties.
Another suspect, Mr. Chen, holding passports from China, Turkey, and Cambodia, was wanted by China for fraud and illegal cross-border solicitation related to an incident in Lishui City, southern Zhejiang Province. He fled to Thailand and bought property there. Mr. Jiang, wanted for online fraud in Dunzhou City, Henan Province, was also involved in owning properties in Bangkok valued at 77-98 million baht. Both suspects have been arrested based on the warrants. They were linked to a brokerage company named "Forfirm," found in the Ramintra, Saphan Sung, and Bang Phli areas.
The investigation also uncovered the involvement of 156 Thai nationals as nominees. Investigators are questioning these individuals, as many claim they unknowingly provided copies of their ID cards and household registration documents for online loan applications, allegedly used by a law firm to establish fraudulent companies without their knowledge. Police intend to use digital evidence to prosecute the implicated law and accounting firms for being accomplices or supporters in the crime.