Thai Police Arrest Crime Syndicate Figure in Fraud Case

Picture courtesy of VN Express

In a major crackdown on an international crime ring, Thai authorities have arrested Ngo Thi Theu, the wife of fugitive Le Khac Ngo, also known as "Mr. Hunter." The arrest, carried out in coordination with Hanoi police and Interpol, marks a significant development in an extensive fraud investigation that has rocked Vietnam.

Major General Nguyen Thanh Tung, Director of Hanoi Police, revealed that Theu was apprehended just before an intended escape to Turkey. However, due to her responsibilities caring for a young child, immediate extradition is not possible. "We'll gather more information once she is back in Vietnam," Tung stated at a press conference on Monday.

In addition to Theu’s arrest, authorities have detained Nguyen Thi Thuy, 43, who managed finances for Pho Duc Nam. Nam, recognised as TikToker "Mr. Pips", is a social media influencer implicated in orchestrating the largest foreign currency and stock fraud case to date in Vietnam.

Nam, along with over 30 accomplices, was detained late last year. They face allegations including fraudulent appropriation of assets and money laundering. The intricate fraudulent scheme, initiated in 2021, involved collaboration with a Turkish national to establish a deceptive trading operation.

The criminal network created a company with multiple offices across Vietnam, employing roughly 1,000 unlicensed staff. The group allegedly misled over 2,660 individuals through a sham stock trading platform, siphoning investors' funds into their own accounts.

Police have uncovered assets worth VND5.3 trillion (approximately 7.67 billion Thai Baht) linked to this criminal enterprise. Nam, leveraging his financial acumen and tech skills, built trust among investors by flaunting a lavish lifestyle on social media, with images of opulent villas and luxury vehicles.

"When people saw my luxurious lifestyle, they felt confident to invest," Nam confessed to police. Unfortunately, many who worked for Nam were young adults and students, fully aware of the illicit undertakings yet reluctant to report them.

Major General Tung expressed concern over this troubling trend and assured that rigorous actions will follow. "We are classifying cases and will take severe action against involved individuals," he affirmed.

The police have identified 571 victims so far, urging others to come forward for investigation. "Some think they've merely lost money in bad investments, but belongings have been seized, and compensation will be arranged," Tung advised.

Furthermore, an international warrant has been issued for the Turkish suspect believed to be masterminding the operation, and Hanoi Police continue to encourage Ngo to surrender. As the investigation unfolds, the authorities remain committed to dismantling this criminal network and securing justice for the victims.

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from VN Express 2025-07-09