CHIANG MAI – Police from the Provincial Region 5 Technology Crime Suppression Centre tracked down and arrested members of a Chinese call centre scam group outside a bank. Seven suspects, both Thai and Lao, are now in custody.
Their operation connects with the King Roman Casino, which is based in the Golden Triangle. Police are preparing to seek warrants for the suspected Chinese financiers believed to run this network.
On Tuesday, Police Lt Gen Kritthaphon Yisakorn (Region 5 Commander), along with Police Major General Thawatchai Phongwiwatchai (Deputy Commander), Police Colonel Worapong Kamlue, and Police Colonel Boonyawat Kerdklam, led the arrest and later held a press briefing at the Provincial Police Region 5 headquarters, located in Mueang Chiang Mai.
Teams from the Technology Crime Suppression Centre and Region 5’s investigative unit worked together to arrest seven people. This group is believed to move funds across borders using mule bank accounts for a wider Chinese-based call centre gang.
Region 5’s police chief instructed his team to focus on technology crimes after repeated complaints of financial losses. The call centre gang tricked victims into transferring money to mule accounts before quickly withdrawing the cash to avoid traceability.
Investigators identified a mix of Chinese, Lao, and Thai members linked to the King Roman operation in Laos. Money withdrawal activities were seen in Lamphun province.
Police began following a suspicious Ford Everest with Chiang Mai plates to a bank in Wiang Nong Long, Lamphun. Two people, Mr. Ekachai and Ms. Sairung, went inside to withdraw money at the teller.
When they exited to hand the cash to Ms. Nanthanat, who waited in the car, officers stepped in to make the arrest. The group had 549,000 baht in cash and several bank books. Officers brought all seven suspects for questioning at SCOTC 5 headquarters.
The seven people are: Mr. Saranpong (surname withheld), 51, the driver and controller; Ms. Nanthanat (surname withheld), 48, who also controlled the mules and found new accounts; Mr. Keo Mounseelavong, 25, Lao national, handled both account management and monitoring; Ms. Sairung (surname withheld), 43, controller; Mr. Ekachai (surname withheld), 40, mule and account owner; Mr. Natthaphat (surname withheld), 27, account recruiter; and Mr. Witun (surname withheld), 43, another mule account holder.
The police charged them with fraud by impersonation, entering false information into a computer system, and conspiracy under organized crime laws.
Investigators say most victims were duped with fake rewards or job offers. Further checks show clear money trails and contact between the suspects and the King Roman group from the special economic zone in the Lao part of the Golden Triangle.
Police are working to collect evidence for arrest warrants against the remaining suspects and the Chinese leaders behind the operation.
In other Police news, A white Ford sedan was found abandoned in a thicket off Highway 118, the main road between Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai. Residents noticed the vehicle left there for several days before contacting the police.
Officers from Wiang Pa Pao Police Station arrived after getting the report, under the supervision of Pol Col Narit Koeddee. The team inspected the area and found no one near the car. Locals explained that someone had parked the car and walked away two or three days earlier.
When police searched inside, they discovered 100 bundles of methamphetamine, each containing about 2,000 pills, hidden in three of the car doors—a total of 200,000 pills.
Checks revealed this was the same vehicle that had earlier sped through a drug checkpoint on Highway 118 near Tha Ko, escaping a police pursuit on the morning of 13 September as it headed towards Wiang Pa Pao. Officers tried to follow, but the car got away.
By the morning of 14 September, people began spotting the car parked in the bush. Nobody paid much attention at first, but after days passed without the driver returning, concern grew, and police were tipped off.
Police have now seized the car and the drugs as evidence. They are continuing the investigation to track down everyone involved.
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