A Chinese national wanted for his alleged role in a 200 million baht ($6.15 million) Bitcoin fraud case has been arrested by Thai immigration police at Don Mueang Airport while attempting to flee to Singapore.
The suspect, identified as Tianwei, 39, was detained in the early hours of June 12, moments before boarding Lion Air flight SL100. His arrest stems from a criminal complaint filed by two fellow Chinese nationals on April 30, 2025, at Mae Sai Police Station in Chiang Rai province.
According to the victims, they met Tianwei on April 23 to discuss a Bitcoin investment deal in Mae Sai district. After the meeting, they transferred cryptocurrency worth approximately 200 million baht to Tianwei’s digital wallet. However, they never received the promised returns, prompting the fraud complaint.
The Chiang Rai Provincial Court issued an arrest warrant for Tianwei on May 16, and authorities began tracking his movements. Immigration police received a tip that the suspect would attempt to exit the country via Don Mueang Airport, leading to a targeted operation.
At around 6:00 a.m., immigration officers intercepted Tianwei at the international departure terminal. He confirmed his identity and claimed he had not previously been arrested in this case.
Tianwei spoke in English during the arrest. Sergeant Suwaphan Utsaha, commander of the Don Mueang Immigration checkpoint, served as interpreter and formally informed him of his rights and the charges.
The suspect was transferred to Mae Sai Police Station for further legal proceedings. The investigation is ongoing as authorities examine the full extent of the fraud.
