Jets, drugs and fast cars: the ‘super-rich’ Chinese gangsters who call Thailand home

[webfact]

Raids in the resort town of Pattaya found threads linking several suspected Chinese criminals through a web of Thai frontmen to authorities at the very top of government. FILE PHOTO.

 

Recent raids and investigations in Thailand have highlighted potential links between Chinese gangsters and Thai local officials

On social media where local anger over the extent of crime by foreign criminals is mounting, Thais have voiced concern over illicit Chinese money

 

A seized private jet, supercars, drugs and palatial mansions: the spoils of crime committed by suspected Chinese gangsters based in Thailand are raising awkward questions over how foreign criminals have freely moved millions of dollars of illicit money through the kingdom.

The scandal began to unfold in late October, when a nationwide anti-drugs operation by the Thai police unearthed a cavernous illegal nightlife den – called Jinling – hidden behind a car wash in Bangkok’s Sathorn commercial district.

It catered to a near-exclusive Chinese clientele, serving up bags of ketamine and other party drugs in karaoke rooms that raged through the night, allowing guests to stash any unfinished drugs for their next visit.

 

Similar raids in the resort town of Pattaya also found threads linking several suspected Chinese criminals through a web of Thai frontmen to authorities who had apparently not seen these anything-goes nightlife venues despite them drawing thousands of guests each night.

 

Full story: https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3202709/jets-drugs-and-fast-cars-super-rich-chinese-gangsters-who-call-thailand-home

 

-- © Copyright South China Morning Post 2022-12-13

 

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[d4dang]

How long has this been going on? How much has been paid to keep this under the table? How much will be paid to ensure the outcomes in court? Lots of officials are drooling.

[StayinThailand2much]

14 minutes ago, d4dang said:

How long has this been going on? How much has been paid to keep this under the table? How much will be paid to ensure the outcomes in court? Lots of officials are drooling.

What I am, personally, more interested in, when and to what extend will the next immigration crackdown happen, following these news, on "foreigners who stay too long, or come too often to Thailand"...

Edited December 12, 2022 by StayinThailand2much

[Onerak]

56 minutes ago, StayinThailand2much said:

"foreigners who stay too long, or come too often to Thailand"...

As a foreigner and an insignificant ant in Thailand whose voice is only heard in this forum I Hope these continue forever but this is Thailand and anything goes. 

[jonclark]

Sorry aren't these the quality tourists Thailand and TAT has been wooing for the past decade? Quality in Thailand equates to rich....and these foreigners are rich..so Thailand should be celebrating their marketing success in attracting so many.  Or maybe they are slowly realising those cheap Charlie backpackers from days of old weren't actually so bad?

Edited December 12, 2022 by jonclark

[Bim Smith]

The problem is in a country where corruption is so normalised in society that these raids will amount to nothing when the trial leads to some very high up officials. It's all in the language. The Chinese are gangsters but the Thais are officials. Wouldn't the truth be both are gangsters and that the Thais just happen to be officials also. 

[rwill]

Once they realized how much these groups were making they determined they weren't getting a big enough share.

Edited December 12, 2022 by rwill

[nobodysfriend]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

to authorities who had apparently not seen these anything-goes nightlife venues despite them drawing thousands of guests each night.

[jacko45k]

2 hours ago, StayinThailand2much said:

What I am, personally, more interested in, when and to what extend will the next immigration crackdown happen, following these news, on "foreigners who stay too long, or come too often to Thailand"...

When the tourist numbers are back up to the point of everyone being satisfied and they begin to get fed up of foreigners again. 

Edited December 13, 2022 by jacko45k

[wombat]

24 minutes ago, rwill said:

Once they realized how much these groups were making they determined they weren't getting a big enough share.

That, prompted by the loss of face fearless leader was dished out by Xi ?

[NobbyClarke]

Nothing will change

Arrest one another will come in.

LOS needs the Chinese

The two governments will sort it all out and it will continue.

Loas is a perfect example.

The Chinese are in LOS and here to stay.

 

 

 

 

[StayinThailand2much]

1 hour ago, jonclark said:

Sorry aren't these the quality tourists Thailand and TAT has been wooing for the past decade? Quality in Thailand equates to rich....and these foreigners are rich..so Thailand should be celebrating their marketing success in attracting so many.  Or maybe they are slowly realising those cheap Charlie backpackers from days of old weren't actually so bad?

Exactly. Chinese, rich, creating 'extra value' (not last for certain government employees)... Probably, 9 out of 10 Thais will still favour such 'tourists' over "those cheap Charlie backpackers".

Edited December 13, 2022 by StayinThailand2much

[chrisbangkok]

Oops , someone's forgotten someone's share ... it'll go away soon once they "correct" their share scheme .

Back to overstayers soon enough , no money in them so cheerio.

[XJPSX]

The Chinese are masters of worming (paying) their way through society regardless of which country the penetrate.

Hurry up and enjoy your holidays because they will soon be allowed to travel again next year.

[thailand49]

The triads didn't just come this year they have been here a long long time.  

Who you think run the Golden Triangle area,  there are roots dating back decades to the Hakka from southern China. 

Reported raids in 32 plus provinces did that happen overnight? These raids are happening not surprising due to their love for their country because former MP Massage king who knows a thing or two about corruptions and illegal businesses. He sees the Thai grip start to slip losing their country so he cry foul the only reason for the raids this goes so deep leaders of this country care about one thing the question is it too late????

 

[ezzra]

Sure why not base in Thailand where corruption is easy, and why everyone is surprise? nothing new here, in China they were would have been executed long time ago, in Thailand it doesn't take much to get the guardians of the law to turn a blind eye...

[Bangkok Barry]

Thailand is simply acting as any third world banana republic does - government officials in bed with foreign - usually Chinese - criminal gangs. Because there's heaps of money to be made. Nothing will ever change that, as those who could make a difference are on the payroll. Perfectly normal.

[mran66]

2 hours ago, rwill said:

Once they realized how much these groups were making they determined they weren't getting a big enough share.

... And the chuvit guy felt he will completely loose for the Chinese unless he tries to blow the whistle. 

 

But issue  likely to be thrown under carpet and buried in committees as too many high up would be exposed. Big Joke out is first step of hiding the truth. If this tuhao guy opens his mouth and papers, many in deep <deleted>, thus unlikely he ever allowed to do. Either he will be found dead or freed, time will tell. 

[Guderian]

This purging of Chinese criminals and gambling syndicates is being done at the behest of the Chinese government, there's an interesting article in the latest Economist magazine about it (Asia section - "China's cash gift to the rest of Asia"). The Chinese authorities are probably even pointing out the bad guys to the Thai cops. They estimate that illegal gambling overseas is responsible for over a fifth of the capital flight out of the country every year and Chairman Xi wants it stopped. And it’s not just in Thailand that the Chinese crims should be worried. Cambodia has been pressured into stopping issuing new online gambling licenses, while the Philippines has said that it will close 175 e-gambling operations in the country and deport 40,000 Chinese workers associated with them. I guess you can expect these clampdowns to continue until Xi is satisfied.

[soalbundy]

4 hours ago, d4dang said:

How long has this been going on? How much has been paid to keep this under the table? How much will be paid to ensure the outcomes in court? Lots of officials are drooling.

Only those who have passed their exams

[HaoleBoy]

Happened in Saipan (Northern Mariana Islands) with the US Territory Governor, a casino and Chinese high-rollers.  This happened 3 yrs back but is still ongoing (with the casino closed down).

 

One has to wonder who will run the casino's that the Thai government is proposing to open soon.  Is this part of the "Brick-n-Road" or Chinese triads coming in to front these gambling dens.

[Toby1947]

How do I get in on this.  All suggestions considered ????????????

[spidermike007]

This likely has very little to do with fighting crime, but rather being disenfranchised, by not getting a piece of the action. So, this is about incorporating the Chinese gangsters and the triads into the RTP mafia. 

 

Anyone believing anything to the contrary has either not been here long enough, or is very naive. 

[chiman]

I know where some live.. smoking... making noise all night.. super cars.. as friendly as a flaming bag of poo 

[nigelforbes]

1 hour ago, thailand49 said:

The triads didn't just come this year they have been here a long long time.  

Who you think run the Golden Triangle area,  there are roots dating back decades to the Hakka from southern China. 

Reported raids in 32 plus provinces did that happen overnight? These raids are happening not surprising due to their love for their country because former MP Massage king who knows a thing or two about corruptions and illegal businesses. He sees the Thai grip start to slip losing their country so he cry foul the only reason for the raids this goes so deep leaders of this country care about one thing the question is it too late????

 

Exactly. Organized Chinese crime has long been entrenched here, only their successful competition with local organized crime has highlighted the present concerns, they are being too successful and the locals have called foul. Oops, that was naughty, things need to be rebalanced and rebalanced they will be. There is nothing at all new about any of this.

[khunpa]

Meanwhile two immigration officers completely wasted their time coming to my home last week, making sure I actually lived in my house, care for my son and his bedridden Thai-mother with stage-4 cancer .

 

At least I guess we managed to convince them I am not a dangerous Farang-criminal, after us all (including our Neighbors) being interrogated. We will see if I get the visa or not.

 

Good they are finally spending their time on real criminals, although I am sure it is just a matter of agreeing and the “kick-back” fees and we will not hear more about it.

Edited December 13, 2022 by khunpa

[dpcjsr]

This is just more evidence to feed my belief that the Chinese are in the process of slowly taking over Thailand. It is slow. It is subtle. It is real. The officials at the top are and will profit from this. 

[Smokey and the Bandit]

"Similar raids in the resort town of Pattaya also found threads linking several suspected Chinese criminals through a web of Thai frontmen to authorities who had apparently not seen these anything-goes nightlife venues despite them drawing thousands of guests each night."

 

So are the

''Thai frontmen" the Police? that would make sense?

[Will B Good]

Jets, drugs and fast cars: the ‘super-rich’ Chinese gangsters who call Thailand home.....

 

................are they talking about the extended CP family?

[digger70]

the ‘super-rich’ Chinese gangsters who call Thailand home 

 

They wanted super rich people to come to Thailand and spent their money. 

They got what they asked for .

They call them gangsters now ,is't because they don't pay tax.

Then we have the local gangsters they call them officials now working in cahoots with the super rich gangsters , now all the gangsters /officials are in trouble it looks like   someone didn't get enough in their brown envelope.