CHIANG MAI — Thai immigration authorities have arrested a 41-year-old Chinese fugitive wanted for defrauding investors in a fake durian farm scheme that spanned multiple provinces in eastern Thailand.
The Immigration Division 3 Investigation Unit tracked down Mr. Long (alias) during a cross-country pursuit that ended at a gas station in Mae Rim District, Chiang Mai Province, on August 11. The suspect had been wanted under an arrest warrant issued by authorities in Guangzhou, China.
Elaborate Durian Investment Scam
According to investigators, Mr. Long orchestrated an elaborate fraud scheme targeting Chinese investors, convincing them to invest more than 5.5 million yuan (approximately $765,145) into what he claimed was a lucrative durian farm operation in Chanthaburi Province and other areas of eastern Thailand. After collecting substantial sums from victims, he disappeared with the funds and fled China.
Chinese authorities subsequently issued an international arrest warrant and formally requested Thailand to revoke his legal permission to remain in the kingdom. They also provided detailed information about the suspect to the Thai Immigration Bureau to assist in his capture.
Multi-Province Manhunt
Upon receiving the tip from Chinese authorities, Thai immigration officers launched an extensive tracking operation that followed the suspect’s movements from Pattaya, through Bangkok, and northward to Chiang Mai Province. The coordinated effort prevented any chance of escape when officers finally cornered him at the Mae Rim gas station.
Officials immediately revoked Mr. Long’s permission to stay in Thailand and transported him to the Immigration Detention Center in Bangkok, where he awaits deportation through proper legal channels.
Crackdown on Transnational Crime
Police Major General Chairit emphasized that the arrest aligns with Royal Thai Police and Immigration Bureau policies to suppress transnational criminals and foreign nationals committing offenses within Thailand’s borders.
“This operation demonstrates our commitment to maintaining public order, national security, and Thailand’s positive reputation in the international community,” he stated.
The case highlights growing concerns about investment fraud schemes targeting overseas Chinese communities, particularly those involving agricultural projects that exploit Thailand’s reputation as a major agricultural exporter. Durian farming has become an increasingly popular investment target due to the fruit’s high value in Chinese markets.
Thai authorities continue to work closely with international partners to identify and apprehend suspects involved in cross-border financial crimes, particularly those that exploit Thailand’s agricultural sector to deceive foreign investors.
⸻
