Pictures courtesy of Khaosod

 

Metropolitan Police in Bangkok have arrested four suspects and seized gold bars worth 2.7 million baht during an operation targeting an international scam network led by Chinese nationals. The arrests were made on 10 October 2025 at Seacon Square shopping mall, following intelligence from Royal Thai Police headquarters about suspicious gold purchases.

 

Officers detained three Thai nationals, Mr. Sombat, 53; Ms. Chanyyanuch, 44 and Ms. Wannipa, 45, alongside a Chinese suspect, Mr. Xiong. The group was apprehended at a gold shop and a nearby coffee shop within the shopping complex. Investigators said the operation involved converting fraud proceeds into gold and moving assets across the Thai-Cambodian border through unofficial checkpoints.

 

Police stated the suspects were part of a well-organised network that recruited Thai citizens as money mules to launder proceeds from online scams. Under interrogation at Prawet Metropolitan Police Station, Ms. Wannipa and Ms. Chanyyanuch admitted to recruiting individuals to open bank accounts for scam transactions. They also confessed to converting illicit funds into gold, later transferred to network leaders, while Ms. Wannipa allegedly coordinated the smuggling of money mules and banking credentials into Cambodia.

 

Mr. Sombat told police he had been hired by a friend to buy gold, receiving a payment of 3,000 baht per transaction. Checks through the Royal Thai Police’s online system linked the group to 95 reported fraud cases nationwide, with total damages exceeding 10 million baht.

 

Police seized gold bars weighing 724 grams, along with two vehicles, a Toyota Fortuner and a Hyundai H-1, plus other evidence. All four suspects have been charged with conspiracy to commit fraud, introducing false data into computer systems and money laundering.

 

Authorities are now expanding the investigation to track down other members of the criminal network and identify further victims. Police say the case highlights the growing complexity of transnational financial crimes and the role of gold purchases in laundering fraudulent proceeds. The Royal Thai Police continue to coordinate with financial regulators and cross-border agencies to dismantle the network’s operations.

 

 

Key Takeaways

 

• Police seized gold worth 2.7 million baht and arrested four suspects linked to a Chinese-led scam network.

• The suspects allegedly laundered fraud money through gold purchases and smuggled assets into Cambodia.

• Investigators have identified 95 related fraud cases nationwide with losses exceeding 10 million baht.

 

Related Stories

 

Yemeni-suspect-arrested-in-Thai-currency-scam-operation

 

Six-Thais-caught-after-mule-account-scam-in-Poipet

 

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Khaosod 2025-10-11

 

 

 

 

Nice little bundle for the brown team!

The group on the left win - they have more 'pointers'   🤣

Oh, I can see it coming: extra checks on the purchase and sale of gold.