Photo via Facebook/ ตำรวจไซเบอร์ – บช.สอท.

 

In a decisive move against illegal lending, police in Pathum Thani, near Bangkok, raided three mobile phone shops suspected of running a high-interest loan shark operation. The crackdown, led by the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB), targeted a chain called Nak Leng Mue Tue, meaning "phone gangster," on August 7.

 

The focal point of the operation was the gang's headquarters, a three-storey building in Thanyaburi district. Here, officers arrested the shop owner, Jirathiwat—known locally as Keng—alongside ten of his staff. The building’s first and third floors served as office spaces, while the second floor was packed with empty mobile phone boxes and detailed records of debtors.

 

Jirathiwat confessed to offering loans that required borrowers to leave their mobile phones as collateral. He further detailed how his team would instal software on the devices, allowing remote control. If repayments weren't met, the team would disable the phones, effectively holding users’ devices hostage.

 

The software, as Jirathiwat revealed, was procured from a Chinese national, leading police to extend their investigation internationally.

 

Authorities disclosed that more than 5,000 people had fallen prey to the scheme, and Jirathiwat's account saw over 5 million Thai Baht in monthly transactions.

 

Jirathiwat and his employees are now facing charges under the Loan Act. However, specific charges and potential penalties remain undisclosed, as police continue to unravel the extent of this illicit network.

 

This operation exemplifies the ongoing efforts to curb illegal financial activities, with investigators committed to pursuing any international links to strengthen their case.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-08-08

 

16 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

If repayments weren't met, the team would disable the phones, effectively holding users’ devices hostage.

 

The software, as Jirathiwat revealed, was procured from a Chinese national, leading police to extend their investigation internationally.

Thailand getting tech savvy..

19 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The software, as Jirathiwat revealed, was procured from a Chinese national, leading police to extend their investigation internationally.

So it's possible any information on those phones could have been collected. Scary.  

 

I'm guessing most of these loans don't follow Thai Law

"Section 654. Maximum Interest is 15% per year

 

Interest shall not exceed 15% per year; when a higher rate of interest is fixed by the contract, it shall be reduced to 15% per year."

8 hours ago, J Branche said:

So it's possible any information on those phones could have been collected. Scary.  

 

I'm guessing most of these loans don't follow Thai Law

"Section 654. Maximum Interest is 15% per year

 

Interest shall not exceed 15% per year; when a higher rate of interest is fixed by the contract, it shall be reduced to 15% per year."

i think they think its 15% per week.