Chonburi/Samut Prakan, Thailand
Thai authorities have arrested four Chinese nationals wanted in China for allegedly defrauding Wuhan authorities of nearly 87 million baht (approximately 18 million yuan) in land expropriation compensation through document forgery.
The arrests occurred on May 29th, 2026, in coordinated operations in Chonburi and Samut Prakan provinces. The suspects, identified by surnames Chen (55), Yuan (54), Fei (51), and Luo (54), were detained at a luxury residence in Moo 1, Huay Yai near Pattaya, and at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Samut Prakan.
Thai police, acting on information from the transnational crime suppression center and coordination via the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation mechanism (LMLECC), targeted the group as fugitives wanted by Wuhan’s Public Security Bureau. They face charges of fraud through document forgery in China.
Investigators allege the suspects were linked to a company contracted for demolition and landscape restoration projects in Wuhan. They reportedly falsified documents, data, and claims to siphon compensation funds for land expropriation and demolition from the local land management authority. The scam involved impersonating others and diverting payments into fraudulent bank accounts, causing losses exceeding 18 million yuan (roughly 87–100 million baht).
After the alleged fraud, the group fled to Thailand and used retirement visas (non-immigrant O visas for retirees) to conceal their presence. Police identified a luxury home in the Pattaya area as their primary safe house. Officers obtained a search warrant from Pattaya Provincial Court and raided the property, apprehending three suspects on site before tracking and arresting the fourth at the airport trying to leave the country.
The four have been charged under Thailand’s Immigration Act as individuals deemed a potential threat to public safety or national security. They are currently held at an immigration detention facility and are expected to be repatriated to China for further prosecution.
No further details on court proceedings in Thailand or additional assets seized have been released as of this reporting.
Photos: CIB Thailand
For the original version of this article, please visit The Pattaya News.
