Thai-Chinese ‘Money Mule’ Gang Busted with Over 2 Million Baht in Cash in Chiang Mai

Picture courtesy of Workpoint.

Thai police have arrested a Thai woman and two Chinese nationals suspected of working as “money mules” for an international scam network, seizing over 2.6 million baht in cash during the operation.

Pol. Lt. Gen. Thawatchai Pongwiwatchai, Deputy Commissioner of Provincial Police Region 5, led a team from the Cyber Crime Suppression Unit in the arrest of 38-year-old Thai national Ms. Anukul, alongside two Chinese nationals, Mr. Men Xin and Mr. Zhang Maoning, aged 28. All three were already wanted under warrants issued by the Chiang Mai Provincial Court on charges of public fraud and entering false or distorted information into a computer system likely to cause harm to the public.

The investigation began after local police in Mae Ping were called to break up a heated argument between the Thai woman and the two Chinese men outside an ATM machine in front of a bank at a popular Chiang Mai shopping mall. Officers arriving on the scene were surprised to find bundles of cash scattered on the ground and stuffed in a bag, totaling more than 2.6 million baht.

When officers attempted to escort the trio to Mae Ping Police Station for questioning, the two Chinese men leapt from the moving police vehicle in a dramatic escape attempt. They were later recaptured at a nearby hotel.

During questioning, Ms. Anukul told police she had previously worked in Lamphun Province and had responded to a social media post offering well-paid jobs withdrawing cash from ATMs. After being contacted, the two Chinese men collected her and instructed her to withdraw money, while they supervised and took custody of the funds. She claimed this was her first time doing such work and that she was desperate to earn money to pay off debts.

On the day of the incident, she had reportedly withdrawn 2.6 million baht using multiple bank cards. Another individual, believed to be part of the same mule network, allegedly encouraged her to flee with the money, promising to stage a distraction by provoking a confrontation with the Chinese men. This ploy ultimately led to the argument that drew police attention.

Pol. Lt. Gen. Thawatchai revealed that the broader scam operation is headed by a Chinese national who deceives victims, both Thai and Chinese, through fraudulent investment schemes. The two arrested Chinese men are believed to have overseen the cash-handling side of the operation, managing multiple mules and collecting withdrawn funds to send to their boss. They were reportedly paid 200,000 baht per month for their role.

Police plan to expand their investigation to uncover the full extent of the network, including the kingpin and any additional money mules or local collaborators.

  Adapted by Asean Now from Workpoint 2025-07-19