Chinese fraud fugitive poses as durian vendor for months to evade police

Thai police arrested a Chinese fraud suspect in Pathum Thani province on Tuesday, August 4, after she frequently changed her appearance, vehicles and accommodation to avoid detection.

Officers from the Immigration Bureau carried out the operation targeting foreign fugitives using information provided by the Foreign Affairs Division of the Royal Thai Police.

As part of the operation, officers investigated the wanted Chinese suspect, identified as 47 year old Najia, who is wanted by Chinese authorities over invoice fraud.

According to police, Najia used a private company to obtain invoices from several businesses without any genuine commercial transactions.

Chinese authorities allege the scheme was used to evade taxes, causing losses of more than 35 million yuan, or over 200 million baht, in Shanghai before she fled to Thailand.

While living in Thailand, police said Najia worked as a durian vendor, travelling between Bangkok and orchards in Chanthaburi province. Investigators said she bought durians from growers before selling them in Bangkok and developed contacts with other fruit traders.

Police added that she frequently changed her hairstyle, moved between different residences and switched vehicles in an effort to avoid being located.

According to MGR Online, investigators posed as buyers interested in purchasing a large quantity of durians to gain the suspect’s trust. After confirming her identity, officers arrested her at her home in Khlong Luang district, Pathum Thani. Thai authorities said the woman will be deported to China to face legal proceedings.

According to MGR Online, police said Najia was not found to have committed any offences or violated Thai law during her stay in the country.

In a similar case, Thai authorities arrested a Chinese national wanted by Taiwanese authorities in Surat Thani in July as he attempted to leave Thailand for a third country.

Another Chinese fraud suspect was arrested in Phuket in April after allegedly accepting payments for billiards equipment that investigators said was never delivered to customers.