PHUKET — 1 April 2026, Immigration police in Phuket have arrested a 32-year-old Chinese man wanted on fraud charges in China, with damages estimated at more than 5 million baht.
The operation follows a directive from senior Immigration Bureau officers to intensify a crackdown on foreign nationals entering Thailand to evade prosecution abroad or engage in transnational crime.
Pol. Col. Charoenphong Khantiloh, superintendent of Satun Immigration and spokesperson for Immigration Division 6, said the arrest was made after coordination with the Chinese Embassy in Thailand via the Royal Thai Police’s Foreign Affairs Division. Authorities were asked to locate, revoke the suspect’s permission to stay and deport him to China, as he was believed to be hiding in Phuket.
Immigration officers tracked the suspect to a condominium in the Patong area of Kathu district. The arrest team took the man, identified as Wang, into custody at the residence.
According to Chinese authorities, Wang is the subject of an arrest warrant issued by the Xinmin branch of the Public Security Bureau in Shenyang, Liaoning province, on charges of “contract fraud”. Investigators allege that he deceived more than 30 victims by claiming to sell billiards equipment, using fake shipping videos and fabricated documents to induce them to sign contracts and transfer money. After receiving payments, he failed to deliver the goods, stalled for time, cut off contact and fled abroad. Total damages are estimated at over 1 million yuan.
Immigration records show Wang entered Thailand on a tourist visa that had not yet expired. Officials subsequently sought and obtained approval to revoke his permission to stay on the grounds that he is a foreign national wanted under a warrant issued by a foreign government.
He was later located at the Patong condominium. Upon being approached, Wang confirmed his identity to officers and was taken to Phuket Immigration for formal notification of the revocation order. He remains in custody pending further legal proceedings.
