Thai police arrested a 37-year-old Chinese national in Bangkok on suspicion of involvement in an international crime network and money laundering operation, according to reports from Thai media.
Investigators said the network handled more than 500 million yuan, approximately $75 million, in financial transactions. Police alleged the suspect facilitated cryptocurrency and foreign-currency exchanges for criminal groups through more than 133 accounts.
According to authorities, the suspect also arranged visas for members of international crime groups connected to additional money-laundering cases. Investigators said he attempted to evade law enforcement by using forged documents to report his residence and altering vehicle registration plates before being located in a luxury residence in Bangkok.
The suspect's Thai visa had expired more than three years prior to his arrest. He is scheduled to face legal proceedings before authorities coordinate his extradition to China to address an outstanding warrant.
The arrest aligns with broader efforts to combat cryptocurrency-related crime networks in the region. In June, cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase froze more than $3 million in digital assets tied to criminal operations targeting users across Southeast Asia, as part of an operation led by the US Department of Justice's Scam Center Strike Force. That operation also involved Meta, Microsoft, and Starlink, which worked to disrupt infrastructure and accounts associated with scam networks.
