Singapore arrests man who operated superyacht for alleged scam kingpin Chen Zhi

Singapore police have arrested a former superyacht captain linked to Chen Zhi, the alleged mastermind of one of Asia’s largest scam networks, for suspected money laundering offences.

According to a report by Bloomberg, Nigel Tang Wan Bao Nabil was taken into custody on 11 December 2025 after returning to Singapore, police said in a statement issued on 18 December 2025.

Tang, aged 32, is currently out on bail, according to people familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity because the information is not public.

Police said Tang was arrested for “suspected involvement in money laundering offences”, with the investigations linked to Chen Zhi and companies associated with him.

US indictment places Chen Zhi at centre of alleged transnational scam network

Chen Zhi, a China-born Cambodian citizen, has been indicted by United States authorities, who accuse him of leading a transnational criminal ring operating large-scale online scam operations.

US prosecutors allege that Chen oversaw a network of scam compounds using forced labour and stole billions of dollars through online “pig butchering” schemes targeting victims in the US and other countries.

According to the indictment, the illicit proceeds were laundered through a complex web of corporate entities and financial channels.

The US authorities have said Chen, aged 38, is currently “at large”.

Tang is one of three Singapore citizens sanctioned by the US Treasury in October 2025 for their alleged ties to Chen and his business interests.

Superyacht ties and US sanctions link Tang to Chen’s business empire

US authorities said Tang served as the captain of a 53-metre superyacht named NONNI II, which was owned by Chen Zhi.

He was also identified as a director and operations head of Warpcapital Yacht Management, a Singapore-registered company.

Bloomberg previously reported that Chen and his associates frequently hosted parties on the superyacht, citing a person familiar with the matter.

Tang was also the head of operations at Capital Zone Warehousing, a Singapore company controlled by Chen that operated a tax-exempt warehouse for imported alcohol and tobacco products.

Prince Holding Group, the Cambodian conglomerate founded and chaired by Chen, has earlier denied that it or Chen committed any offences.

Asset freezes and court filings widen probe into Chen-linked companies

Since the US unveiled its case against Chen and Prince Holding Group, authorities in Singapore and other jurisdictions have intensified investigations into the group’s activities.

In late October, Singapore police said they had seized or prohibited the sale of more than US$150 million worth of assets linked to Chen and his associates.

The seized assets included properties, bank accounts, vehicles, bottles of liquor and a yacht. At that time, police said Chen and his known associates were not in Singapore.

Court filings seen by Bloomberg indicated that at least 15 bank accounts were among the assets seized as part of the investigations.

In November, four Singapore companies controlled by Chen, including Capital Zone Warehousing and his local family office, applied to a local court for limited access to frozen funds.

The companies said the funds were needed to pay staff salaries, legal fees and other operating expenses.

The application was driven by Karen Chen Xiuling, another Singapore citizen sanctioned by the US.

According to court documents, Karen Chen is currently travelling in Cambodia.

The filings stated that the companies would face “severe consequences” if they were unable to meet contractual and legal obligations.

The companies’ lawyers said outstanding rent and unpaid salaries were among the liabilities. Only two employees reportedly remain, including Karen Chen herself.

Clarence Lun Yaodong, a lawyer representing the four companies, Warpcapital Yacht Management and Karen Chen, told Bloomberg that the court has heard the application and will decide on the matter.

Singapore prosecutors have objected to the request, arguing that the funds are “suspected tainted properties” linked to alleged criminal activities.

They said the Commercial Affairs Department is investigating Chen, his key associates and related companies, and noted that Karen Chen and Alan Yeo did not respond to interview requests.

Financial filings also showed that companies linked to Chen held more than US$3.2 million across accounts at Malayan Banking and Revolut.

Other accounts at OCBC and RHB Bank were seized, while accounts at CIMB Group Holdings were closed.

The banks declined to comment, citing ongoing investigations or court proceedings.

In October, US authorities also accused Chen of overseeing forced-labour scam compounds in Cambodia and confiscated around US$15 billion in bitcoin described as criminal proceeds.

Regionally, enforcement agencies in Taiwan, South Korea and Hong Kong have executed large-scale seizures, each reportedly reaching up to US$350 million, as part of coordinated action against the alleged network.

In Britain, more than US$130 million in business and London property assets linked to Chen’s network were also frozen.

Authorities say scam hubs across South-east Asia commonly recruit workers under false pretences, with many later trafficked and confined to forced-scam operations.