Anutin vows continued crackdown as 10 billion baht seized in scam investigation

Thailand has significantly stepped up efforts to dismantle transnational crime and scam networks, seizing over 10 billion baht in assets and arresting several high-profile international fugitives in coordinated operations across the country.

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul on 3 December 2025 declared that his administration would continue intensifying its scam suppression campaign. He affirmed that legal action would be taken against all proven offenders, without prejudice or exceptions.

“There will not be any leniency. Investigation will be based on evidence and behaviours,” Anutin said at a press briefing at the Central Investigation Bureau in Bangkok. He added that the operations would continue daily until the situation stabilises and public safety is restored.

The campaign’s momentum follows the major seizure of assets valued at 10.16 billion baht (US$318 million) from a criminal network linked to Cambodian businessman Yim Leak. This action stems from an investigation into roughly 700 complaints from online scam victims dating back to 2021.

Deputy Commissioner of the Central Investigation Bureau, Police Major General Sophon Sarapat, stated that money from the victims had been routed through multiple mule accounts before reaching final destinations, including accounts in Bangkok Bank and Kasikornbank held by Yim Leak.

These two accounts alone received more than 3 billion baht. Investigations led to the identification of 42 suspects; 29 have been arrested while 13 remain at large, including Yim, his Thai wife Wiranya, and another Cambodian national.

Police also searched 50 sites across 22 provinces. Seized items included six stock trading accounts with 8.1 billion baht in securities, eight luxury vehicles valued at 78 million baht, an 800-million-baht yacht, 1.17 billion baht in cash, and three land plots.

According to Thepsu Bowornchotedara, secretary-general of the Anti-Money Laundering Office (Amlo), the suspects laundered scam proceeds through front companies and share acquisitions in Thai firms, including Bangchak Corporation.

A central figure in the laundering operation was a woman named Miss Taengthai, who handled financial transactions for Yim and his wife, as well as South African businessman Benjamin Mauerberger—also known as Ben Smith.

Between 2017 and 2022, financial transactions involving these parties exceeded 15 billion baht. Thepsu confirmed that Amlo would, within 90 days, request the public prosecutor to push for the confiscation of the assets. Proceeds from the eventual auction would be returned to the victims.

Mauerberger is under scrutiny following a two-year investigation by former Wall Street Journal journalists Tom Wright and Bradley Hope. Their Whale Hunting website alleges he used laundered funds to build a “shadow empire” with links to high-level figures in Thailand and Cambodia.

His financial dealings reportedly include acquisitions of large stakes in Thai listed firms such as Bangchak Plc and Finansia X Plc. One related transaction led to the resignation of Vorapak Tanyawong as Thailand’s deputy finance minister in October 2025.

In parallel with the scam crackdown, the Royal Thai Police Immigration Bureau (IB) announced on 2 December 2025 the arrest of four international fugitives, part of a sustained campaign to prevent Thailand from becoming a safe haven for foreign criminals.

The operation included the arrest of a 41-year-old Chinese national named Pan, wanted for orchestrating a US$78 million financial fraud in China.

According to IB reports, Pan defrauded Chinese financial institutions by establishing front companies to secure illicit loans, netting illegal profits of over 80 million yuan (approximately US$11.1 million).

He fled to Thailand in May 2024 and was apprehended after three months of surveillance. Officers located him in Pattaya, living with his girlfriend and operating under a tourist visa, which he had overstayed.

In another operation, IB detained three more Chinese nationals—Yang (31), Zhang (21), and Cheng (20)—accused of trafficking over 120 victims into scam call centre operations based in Myanmar and Cambodia.

The trio allegedly deceived victims into travelling abroad by promising access to international credit services. Once across the border, the victims were forced into labour for call centre gangs.

These suspects facilitated illegal crossings from Yunnan and Guangxi provinces and were also arrested for visa violations. The Chinese Embassy is coordinating their extradition.

Cheng is additionally wanted for receiving stolen property and aiding illegal crossings, suggesting a senior role within the trafficking operation.

These coordinated crackdowns reflect a broader law enforcement shift in Thailand towards proactive, intelligence-led efforts against international crime.

Officials have emphasised that these actions are only the beginning, as both domestic and foreign suspects face increasing scrutiny under Thailand’s evolving regulatory and enforcement frameworks.