Thai Police Dismantle Chinese Call Center Scam Network
Thai immigration police raided three luxury homes in Sai Mai, dismantling a Chinese-backed call center and online gambling syndicate. Fourteen suspects were arrested and over 200 items seized, with damages estimated at over 100 million baht. The crackdown was triggered by an escaped victim who exposed forced labor and scam operations linked to a major Chinese gambling network.
On October 22, 2026, Pol. Lt. Gen. Samran Nuanma, Commissioner of the Immigration Bureau, ordered Pol. Maj. Gen. Noppasit Poonsawat, Deputy Commissioner, along with Pol. Col. Thanit Thaiwatcharamas, Deputy Commissioner; Pol. Col. Sarawut Khonyai, Superintendent of Immigration Division 6; Pol. Lt. Col. Chiddecha Songhong, Deputy Superintendent of Immigration Division 6; Pol. Lt. Col. Chai Phanakit, Head of Investigation Group, Immigration Division 6; Pol. Lt. Col. Pisit Sri-on, Deputy Head of Investigation Group, Immigration Division 6; Pol. Lt. Col. Wutthiphat Naphachot, Superintendent of Immigration Division 6 Subdivision; and Pol. Lt. Col. Nopparat Jongchoedchutrakul, Deputy Superintendent, along with Pol. Maj. Sittimon Soiphuraya and Pol. Maj. Phurit Khammuen, investigators, to lead a team raiding a major 'scammer den – online gambling' operation run by Chinese nationals. They searched three luxury homes worth over 40 million baht in the Sai Mai area, arresting 14 suspects: 10 Chinese nationals, 3 Thais, 1 Myanmar national, and 1 additional Thai. They also seized over 200 items of equipment used in the crimes, an amount of cash, with estimated damages exceeding 100 million baht.
Pol. Maj. Gen. Noppasit revealed that the operation stemmed from a tip-off received by immigration officers from a 25-year-old Chinese national named 'Liu'. He escaped from a safe house in Sai Mai and sought help, providing photographic evidence and chat logs. The victim stated he was lured from China with a salary offer of up to 80,000 baht but was forced to work as a scammer, deceiving fellow Chinese through fake product review and view-boosting schemes before being tricked into transferring increasing amounts of money. Inside the safe house, Chinese workers were forced to work 12-hour shifts under strict supervision and were also compelled to manage the backend systems of online gambling websites.
In September, Liu overheard the controllers discussing plans to relocate the operation to Cambodia due to the intense crackdown in Thailand, prompting his escape.
Preliminary examination of electronic devices revealed links to a major Chinese online gambling website known as 'HGA' or the 'Hong Kuan' network, with data related to phone scams. Officials are currently verifying user data, phone numbers, related accounts, and financial trails to determine how each device was used and the extent of each suspect's involvement in the network.
Background checks and coordination with Chinese authorities identified at least two key suspects. The first is a Chinese national named 'Fu', who has an arrest warrant from China for online gambling offenses; officials are verifying the warrant details. The second is a suspect named 'Han', who has an arrest warrant in Thailand for drug offenses involving ketamine. His case is in court and he was released on bail, but immigration records show he overstayed his visa by more than 1,200 days.
