Thai authorities have arrested a Chinese national in Pattaya who is wanted in connection with a large-scale call centre scam operation and the alleged murder of a South Korean student, police confirmed.
Officers from Thailand’s Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), working with the Anti-Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (ACIB) and South Korean authorities, carried out the arrest on Wednesday, Jan. 8. The suspect was taken into custody after investigators learned he was hiding in Pattaya under an Interpol Red Notice issued at the request of South Korea.
The suspect, identified as a Chinese man named Xian, is accused of recruiting South Korean nationals into a call centre scam syndicate operating in a neighbouring country. Investigators said victims were deceived with false job offers and later forced to participate in online scams or coerced into opening mule bank accounts for illegal financial transactions.
According to police, victims’ passports were confiscated upon arrival, and they were threatened to prevent escape. Those who refused to cooperate or failed to meet scam targets were allegedly subjected to physical abuse.
South Korean authorities further allege that Xian was involved in the torture and murder of a South Korean student who had been tricked into joining the scam operation. Following the incident, Xian allegedly fled the country and went into hiding in Thailand.
Thai police arrested the suspect at a residence in Pattaya, seizing his passport and other personal documents. He was later transferred to the Office of the Attorney General to begin legal proceedings, including possible extradition to South Korea.
During the operation, officers also encountered two additional Chinese nationals at the residence. One man, identified as Chen, tested positive for crystal methamphetamine and appeared to be under the influence of drugs at the time of arrest. The third individual was found to have no criminal record, though authorities said further questioning is ongoing to determine any potential involvement in illegal activity.
The CIB urged the public to remain cautious of scam tactics, particularly job or investment offers promising unusually high returns. Authorities encouraged anyone who observes suspicious activities or foreign nationals involved in potential scams to report the information to police.
