A Chinese national, Wang Shuiming, wanted across Asia for his alleged involvement in a $2.3 billion online gambling fraud, has been arrested in Montenegro after evading authorities for years.
Wang, 42, was detained at Tivat Airport upon his arrival from the Maldives. His identity was flagged during routine passport checks for private jet passengers. The arrest followed an Interpol Red Notice issued by China, marking a significant step in the global effort to combat financial crime.
Authorities claim that Wang was the mastermind behind an illicit online betting network, which defrauded users and laundered billions of dollars through a complex web of financial institutions and technology firms spread across multiple countries.
Wang had managed to evade capture for years by holding multiple nationalities, including Vanuatu, Chinese, Turkish, and Cambodian passports, which allowed him to move freely across borders. His financial activities had caught the attention of Singaporean officials in 2019, prompting investigations into his wealth and citizenship status.
Reports suggest that Wang had close connections to Su Weiji, another Chinese national implicated in digital currency fraud. Additionally, investigations reveal Wang worked alongside Wang Bingang, helping launder gambling profits through offshore entities.
One of the key tactics used by Wang’s network was falsifying corporate financial records, creating a cover for their illicit operations.
The magnitude of Wang’s criminal activities was revealed in August 2023, when Singaporean authorities seized $2.3 billion in assets tied to his operation. Ten individuals were arrested, and an international manhunt was launched for eight more suspects. Wang had remained at large until his arrest in Montenegro, bringing his years-long evasion to an end.
