Chinese arms cache suspect tied to Cambodia scam gangs

Thai police believe that Ming Chen San, the Chinese man arrested with a large cache of arms and explosives, is connected with Chinese scammers based in Cambodia and that he may be in conflict with them.

Informed police sources said that the investigation has not yet found any indication that the suspect intended to use his arsenal to carry out terrorist attacks or acts of sabotage in Thailand, but evidence found in the chat application on his cellphone shows he was in contact with a Chinese scam network in Cambodia.

Investigation of the suspect’s financial situation shows that Ming had conducted 473 transactions through his Siam Commercial Bank accounts between September 2, 2022 and May 6 this year. The amount of money transferred to his bank accounts on various occasions amounted to 40.5 million baht, while the amount withdrawn totalled 40.48 million baht during the same period, with the largest single deposit or withdrawal being five million baht.

The source pointed out that transactions on the suspect’s bank accounts match transactions on the cryptocurrency account used by a Chinese-run scam network in Cambodia to deceive its victims.

The source also noted that the video clip found in the suspect’s cellphone, showing his weapons training in Cambodia, coincided with evidence on the chat platform suggesting that he had a conflict with the scammers in Cambodia.

The suspect was found to hold Chinese and Cambodian passports and a pink Thai ID card, as well as a Privilege Entry visa valid for 20 years. He also holds a long-stay resident’s visa for South Korea.

Using the Chinese suspect’s case as an example, the source said that the Royal Thai Police plans to propose a review of the screening of foreigners seeking long-term stays in Thailand, to prevent criminal elements from taking advantage of a legal loophole.

Ming Chen San is currently in police custody for further questioning.