Pattaya, Thailand – Thai police conducted a joint raid on luxury housing estates near Pattaya on May 30th, 2026, arresting four Chinese nationals, three who were on overstay and one with Thai criminal charges, wanted in China for allegedly operating an illegal loan sharking network involving extortionate interest rates, kidnapping, torture, and violent debt collection.
Acting on orders from Pol. Maj. Gen. Phatthanasak Bupphasuwan, Commander of the Crime Suppression Division (CSD), officers from CSD’s Division 2, led by Pol. Col. Netiwit Thanasithnikul, along with Immigration Bureau Region 3’s Investigation Division, led by Pol. Col. Suriya Phuangsombut, raided multiple upscale villages in Tambon Huai Yai and Tambon Takhian Tia.
The four suspects, all Chinese citizens, are:
– Mr. Zhang Zhuai, 34
– Ms. Ge, 36
– A 34-year-old Chinese woman (name not specified in reports)
– Mr. Yang, 34
Three were detained for overstaying after their permission to remain in the Kingdom was revoked, while the fourth faces additional undisclosed criminal charges under Thai law.
The arrests stem from close coordination between Thai authorities and Chinese officials. On March 20th, 2025, China’s Fengnan Public Security Bureau in Tangshan City issued arrest warrants for the group on charges of operating an illegal business, causing public disturbance, and unlawful debt collection.
Investigations revealed the gang allegedly ran an underground lending operation in China that targeted over 40 victims. They charged interest rates exceeding 30% per month. Borrowers who missed payments were allegedly tracked down, kidnapped, detained in rented rooms, physically assaulted, and tortured using various methods to force repayment or seize assets.
The suspects later fled to Thailand, where they attempted to evade detection by avoiding the use of their real names and passports in transactions. Thai police, under the Center for Suppressing Transnational Crime and Illegal Immigration, tracked their movements to luxury properties in the Pattaya area before revoking their stay permits and launching the operation. No resistance was reported during the raids.
Three suspects were transferred to Immigration Bureau detention facilities, while the fourth with undisclosed Thai criminal charges was handed over to Huai Yai Police Station for further legal proceedings. All four are expected to be deported to China to face justice in their home country.
Thai authorities stated that operations like this align with national policy to prevent Thailand from becoming a safe haven for international criminals. They vowed to continue aggressive crackdowns on cross-border crime networks to protect public safety and national security.
