Chinese fugitive wanted over money laundering network arrested in Thailand
A Chinese fugitive wanted over an alleged money laundering network that moved more than 500 million yuan was arrested in Thailand.
Wu, 37, allegedly worked as a money launderer for a transnational criminal network, exchanging cryptocurrency and foreign currencies on behalf of the gang.
He was accused of recruiting people to open mule accounts, collecting their bank cards and handing them over to the network to launder money.
Wu was also allegedly responsible for procuring visas for members of transnational criminal groups linked to other money laundering cases.
He had reportedly been hiding in Thailand for more than three years before police raided his luxury house in Bangkok's Saphan Sung district on October 16.
Footage shows cops storming the property, where Wu was found sleeping naked in his bed.
Immigration police said the manhunt was challenging because Wu had used fake documents to report his accommodation, frequently changed vehicle registration plates and altered the colour of his car to avoid being tracked down.
Officers eventually traced him to the luxury house in the Ramkhamhaeng area of Bangkok.
Chinese authorities issued an arrest warrant for Wu over his alleged involvement in a criminal network linked to loan sharking and money laundering.
He was linked to more than 133 bank accounts used in transactions worth more than 500 million yuan.
Police said Wu was charged locally with overstaying his visa and was handed over to investigators for legal proceedings.
Police Major General Songprod Sirisukha, commander of Immigration Division 3, said they would coordinate with Chinese officials to arrange his return to face the outstanding arrest warrant in China.
He said: 'The Immigration Bureau commissioner has ordered all units to investigate and crack down on transnational criminal networks, particularly mule account and money laundering operations that cause damage to the public and financial systems both domestically and internationally.
‘The Immigration Bureau reaffirms its policy of screening foreign nationals entering the country and decisively suppressing and prosecuting those who violate the law, ensuring Thailand does not become a haven for fugitives.'
