Chinese Suspect Arrested in Thailand for 4 Billion Baht Crypto Scam

SAMUT PRAKAN — On February 19, 2026, Thai immigration police arrested a Chinese national accused of running a massive cryptocurrency investment scam that defrauded victims of $128 million, or over 4.5 billion baht. The suspect, Tuan Jianlei, known as "Boss Tuan," was captured at a luxury housing estate in Bang Phli district, Samut Prakan province, after authorities tracked him for approximately one month. Tuan was wanted by Chinese authorities for creating a fraudulent digital asset trading platform called BHE Exchange in 2024. The platform issued fake cryptocurrency and attracted around 20,000 victims with promises of high returns. Chinese authorities estimate total losses at $128 million before the platform was shut down and the suspect fled overseas. Thai police reported that Tuan entered Thailand in late 2024 and frequently changed residences to avoid arrest. Immigration officers located him through surveillance and intelligence coordination with Chinese authorities. His visa has been revoked, and he is being detained pending deportation to China to face fraud charges. Police stated that the arrest demonstrates ongoing cooperation between Thai and Chinese law enforcement in combating transnational cybercrime and investment fraud.