Vietnamese gang arrested in 1.7m baht Bangkok extortion racket

Officers from the Investigation Division of the Immigration Bureau arrested nine Vietnamese nationals at a house in Bangkok for brutally assaulting and extorting 1.7 million baht from a Thai-Taiwanese couple. The two victims were rescued safely.

The brutal assault and extortion came to light after a Taiwanese man filed a complaint with Zhongping Police Station in New Taipei City, Taiwan, stating that his son, 21 year old Li, was detained and assaulted in Thailand. Li called his father and asked for 1.7 million baht to pay the gang, warning that he would be killed if the money was not paid.

Taiwanese authorities coordinated with the Thai Immigration Bureau, leading to further investigation. Officers discovered that Li was being held at a house in Soi Lat Phrao 41, in the Chatuchak district of Bangkok, along with his Thai girlfriend, 33 year old Suchada.

Police kept the house under surveillance and observed a large number of Vietnamese nationals residing there. The group was operating a cryptocurrency exchange business in Thailand but they only offered services to exclusive clients who contacted them through Thai agents.

During surveillance yesterday, September 26, officers spotted a red Mazda with a fake registration plate leaving the house. They followed the vehicle to a warehouse in the central province of Suphan Buri, where it disappeared inside the facility before returning to the house in Bangkok later that night.

Immigration officers noticed two people getting out of the car and believed they were the Thai and Taiwanese couple. The officers then raided the house.

Li and Suchada were found being held in a room within the house. Li sustained injuries to his face, body, and arms, and had a strangulation mark around his neck. The report did not specify any injuries sustained by Suchada.

Crypto exchange conflict

Li explained that a man named Artong asked him to exchange 1.7 million baht for 50,000 USDT coins. Li contacted a Thai agent, who arranged a meeting with the Vietnamese nationals. The Vietnamese group transferred 50,000 USDT to Artong’s crypto account but Artong refused to transfer the 1.7 million baht to the gang and subsequently blocked all contact with Li.

As a result, the Vietnamese nationals demanded the money from Li instead. Li was able to return only 990 USDT coins and contacted his father to request more money but his father was unable to provide it.

According to Li, the gang took him and his Thai girlfriend to the warehouse in Suphan Buri, where they were brutally assaulted. The gang beat Li and threatened to cut off his finger and kill him if he could not repay the money. Fortunately, his father reached out to the police, and Thai officers were able to rescue them in time.

Nine Vietnamese nationals involved in the case were arrested at the house, including 40 year old Phan Van, 37 year old Oham Ngoc, 49 year old Nguyen Huan, 34 year old Ngoc Phap, 41 year old Nguyen Thanh, 33 year old Nguyen Thanh, 41 year old Tran Vu, 35 year old Ngoc Tu, and 40 year old Nguyen Hou.

The legal charges and punishments against the nine Vietnamese suspects have not yet been finalised.

Channel 3 reported that Li is also wanted in Taiwan for a physical assault case, and he may be extradited back to his home country to face those charges.