A man walks beside a damaged house and boat due to Typhoon Fung-wong along a coastal village on Monday, Nov. 10, 2025, in Navotas, Philippines. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Typhoon Fung-wong blew out of the northwestern Philippines on Monday after causing floods, landslides, power outages and at least 18 deaths.
The typhoon weakened into a tropical storm over the South China Sea and was moving northwest toward Taiwan, where it could hit Thursday.
Fung-wong lashed the northern Philippines after Typhoon Kalmaegi struck central provinces last week, leaving at least 232 people dead, and later hitting Vietnam, where at least five were killed.
Fung-wong was a super typhoon with maximum sustained winds of 185 kph (115 mph) when it made landfall Sunday in northeastern Aurora province. The 1,800-kilometer (1,100-mile)-wide storm weakened as it raked through mountainous northern provinces and agricultural plains overnight before blowing into the South China Sea, according to state forecasters.
Men swim despite strong waves due to Typhoon Fung-wong along a coastal village on Monday, Nov. 10, 2025, in Navotas, Philippines. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
At least 18 people died due to flash floods, landslides, exposed electrical wires and a collapsed house in the provinces of Catanduanes, Eastern Samar, Nueva Vizcaya, Mountain Province and Ifugao, disaster-response and provincial officials said.
Landslides killed three children in the mountainous province of Nueva Vizcaya, police told The Associated Press, adding four others were injured. Another landslide in nearby Kalinga province killed two villagers and two others were missing, provincial officials said late Monday.
More than 1.4 million people moved into emergency shelters or the homes of relatives before the typhoon made landfall, and about 240,000 remained in evacuation centers Tuesday.
Fierce wind and rain flooded at least 132 northern villages, including one where some residents were trapped on their roofs as floodwaters rapidly rose. More than 4,100 houses were damaged, Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro IV of the Office of Civil Defense and other officials said.
A resident cleans up debris during heavy rainfall in their coastal village, which was affected by Typhoon Fung-wong on Monday, Nov. 10, 2025, in Navotas, Philippines. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
“While the typhoon has passed, its rains still pose a danger in certain areas” in northern Luzon, including in metropolitan Manila,” Alejandro said. “We’ll undertake today rescue, relief and disaster-response operations.”
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declared a state of emergency due to the devastation caused by Kalmaegi and the expected damage from Fung-wong, which was also called Uwan in the Philippines.
Tropical cyclones with sustained winds of 185 kph (115 mph) or higher are categorized in the Philippines as a super typhoon to underscore the urgency tied to more extreme weather disturbances.
Schools and most government offices were closed Monday and Tuesday. Multiple domestic and international flights were canceled over the weekend and into Monday, and more than 6,600 commuters and cargo workers were stranded in ports after the coast guard prohibited ships from venturing into rough seas.
The Philippines is hit by about 20 typhoons and storms each year. The country also has frequent earthquakes and has more than a dozen active volcanoes, making it one of the world’s most disaster-prone countries.
In this image released by Romsai Rescue Foundation Satun, Thai Navy carry a body which is believed to be one of passengers from a boat that believed sank near Tarutao island, Satun, southern Thailand, Sunday, Nov. 9, 2025. (Romsai Rescue Foundation Satun via AP)
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Malaysian rescuers searching for dozens of people still missing after a boat carrying migrants from Myanmar capsized last week recovered five more bodies on Monday, bringing the death toll to 12.
The bodies of two men, two women and a boy were found in waters off northern Langkawi island, close to the Thailand border, the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency said.
First Adm. Romli Mustafa said in a statement that an estimated 70 people were on board the capsized boat, based on survivors’ account. Of those, 13 have been rescued over the past two days, with dozens still missing.
In this image released by Romsai Rescue Foundation Satun, Thai Navy carry a body which is believed to be one of passengers from a boat that believed sank near Tarutao island, Satun, southern Thailand, Sunday, Nov. 9, 2025. (Romsai Rescue Foundation Satun via AP)
Officials said a larger vessel carrying some 300 people departed from the town of Buthidaung, in Myanmar’s Rakhine state. The passengers were believed to have been split into three smaller boats once the vessel neared Malaysia. One of the boats was believed to have sank near Tarutao island in southern Thailand on Thursday.
The timing and exact location of the incident is not known. The fate of the other two boats is also unclear, officials said.
Malaysian rescuers supported by air surveillance scoured a wider area on Monday, and will continue their operation Tuesday.
In this image released by Romsai Rescue Foundation Satun, Thai Navy carry a body which is believed to be one of passengers from a boat that believed sank near Tarutao island, Satun, southern Thailand, Sunday, Nov. 9, 2025. (Romsai Rescue Foundation Satun via AP)
Authorities have said some of those rescued were Rohingya Muslims, from Myanmar, where they have faced persecution for decades. Malaysia is a popular destination for Rohingya seeking to enter illegally because of its dominant Malay Muslim population.
Malaysia has accepted Rohingya in the past on humanitarian grounds but has tried to limit their numbers, fearing a mass influx of people arriving on boats. In January, Malaysian authorities turned away two boats carrying nearly 300 people believed to be Rohingya refugees.
There are around 117,670 Rohingya registered with the U.N.’s refugee agency in Malaysia — about 59% of the total refugee population in the country.
Two Thai soldiers injured by a landmine during a patrol near the Thai-Cambodia border are treated as they are to be transferred to a hospital in Sisaket province, Thailand, Monday, Nov. 10, 2025. (Royal Thai Army via AP)
BANGKOK (AP) — Thailand threatened on Monday to suspend a U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement with Cambodia, with the country’s prime minister saying all actions under the deal will be halted, just hours after a land mine explosion in the volatile border area injured two Thai soldiers.
Thailand and Cambodia signed a truce agreement at a summit in Malaysia last month, after territorial disputes between the two Southeast Asian neighbors led to a five-day deadly combat in late July that killed dozens.
Tensions have simmered and there have been similar land mine explosions — both before and after the clashes, including one that injured three Thai soldiers patrolling the border zone in August.
President Donald Trump, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, left, and Thailand’s Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul pose with their documents during a signing ceremony on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Sunday, Oct. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said Monday’s incident shows that “the hostility towards our national security has not decreased as we thought it would,” adding that all actions to be carried out under the truce agreement will be halted until Thailand’s demands are met.
He did not elaborate on Thailand’s demands and there was no immediate response from the Cambodian government.
Under the terms of the agreement, Thailand is to release 18 Cambodian soldiers held prisoner and both sides are to begin removing heavy weapons and land mines from the border area.
The Royal Thai Army said a sergeant had lost his right foot after stepping on a land mine while on patrol Monday along the border in Sisaket province, while another soldier suffered a tightness in his chest from the impact of the blast. It said both soldiers were receiving treatment at a hospital.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, left and Thailand’s Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul react as they switch country signs during a signing ceremony on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Sunday, Oct. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
Thai Defense Minister Natthaphon Narkphanit said the army is still investigating whether the mine was old or was newly laid. He added that Thailand will postpone the release of the captured Cambodian soldiers, initially scheduled for later this week.
The two sides said there has been some progress on arms removal but Thailand accuses Cambodia of obstructing the mine clearance process. Cambodia says it’s committed to all terms in the agreement, including demining, and urged Thailand to release its soldiers as soon as possible.
Thailand has accused Cambodia of laying new mines in violation of the truce, which the Cambodian government denies.
ROCTEC Global Public Company Limited (“ROCTEC”) announced its financial results for the second quarter of fiscal year 2025/26 (July to September 2025), reporting a net profit of THB 122 million, a 53.5% YoY. The solid performance highlights the Company’s strong operating efficiency and resilient business structure, supported by a well-balanced revenue mix across its ICT Solutions businesses and disciplined cost management.
In the second quarter, total revenue reached THB 819 million, a slight increase of 0.3% YoY. The ICT Solutions remained the Company’s main revenue contributor, despite slower progress in certain projects due to timing differences. Growth was driven by the strong performance of Digital Display Solutions, which expanded by 20% YoY and played a key role in supporting ICT Solutions revenue during the period. The Advertising business also continued to show steady progress through effective asset utilisation and cost control.
Operating efficiency continued to improv steadily, with gross profit rising 10.2% YoY to THB 241 million, while the gross profit margin expanded to 29.4%, supported by a higher proportion of high-margin projects and disciplined project execution. For the first six months of FY2025/26, net profit totalled THB 244 million, up 58.1% YoY, reflecting effective cost control and enhanced operational efficiency that contributed to a stronger overall performance.
Thai authorities monitor a German man's motorcycle on Koh Phangan following noise complaints before detaining him on November 10, 2025.
KOH PHANGAN — A 22-year-old German man wanted in his home country for an armed extortion case was arrested on Koh Phangan after local residents complained about his loud motorcycle and reckless driving, police said Monday.
Officers from Koh Phangan Tourist Police, the Koh Phangan Police Station, Surat Thani Immigration, and local administrative officials launched an operation after receiving multiple complaints that a foreign man was riding a motorcycle without a license plate, using a modified exhaust pipe, and speeding through residential areas, endangering others.
Authorities monitored and recorded the man’s dangerous behavior — including weaving through traffic, overtaking on solid lines, and speeding around curves — before intercepting him at a coin-operated car wash.
The suspect was identified as Sukru, 22, a German national. Police seized his motorcycle and a set of brass knuckles found in his shoulder bag.
Tourist police on Koh Phangan search a German fugitive on Nov. 10, seizing his motorcycle and brass knuckles found in his shoulder bag.
Pol. Lt. Col. Winich Boonchit of the Tourist Police Division said a background check revealed a shocking discovery — Sukru was the subject of an Interpol Red Notice and an arrest warrant from Germany for a serious armed extortion case. The suspect reportedly admitted to committing the crime in Germany before fleeing to Thailand.
He has been charged with reckless driving and possession of a weapon, and was handed over to investigators at Koh Phangan Police Station. Authorities have also contacted German law enforcement to coordinate his extradition.
Tourist Police Commissioner Pol. Lt. Gen. Saksira Phueak-arm has ordered intensified crackdowns on foreign criminals hiding in popular tourist destinations to ensure safety and confidence among visitors during the upcoming high season.
The White Temple in Chiang Rai, Thailand, will raise admission fees for foreign visitors starting Jan. 1, 2026.
CHIANG RAI — Wat Rong Khun, commonly called the White Temple, will double its admission fee for foreign visitors to 200 baht ($6.20) starting January 1, 2026 to fund maintenance and improvements at the popular northern Thailand attraction.
The new rate, up from 100 baht, includes access to the temple’s Cave of Art. Temple officials said the increase is needed to maintain facilities and accommodate growing visitor numbers while preserving the site’s distinctive appearance.
Visitors aged 70 and above and children shorter than 120 centimeters (nearly 4 feet) will continue to receive free admission. Thai nationals can still visit at no charge, a common practice at cultural sites across the country aimed at encouraging citizens to appreciate national heritage while generating maintenance revenue from international tourists.
Wat Rong Khun, known as the White Temple, in Chiang Rai province, Thailand.
Located in Muang district, the contemporary Buddhist temple was founded and designed by artist Chalermchai Kositpipat in 1997. The ornate white structure decorated with mirrored glass fragments blends traditional Thai art with modern concepts.
The site also features the Cave of Art, showcasing Chalermchai’s sculptures depicting Buddhist cosmology including hell realms and the gates to nirvana. Despite being a Buddhist temple, no monks currently reside there.
Chinese tourists remain the primary international visitors to the site, which has become one of Chiang Rai’s most recognizable landmarks.
BANGKOK – A new toxicology study has revealed that certain shark-based pet dental treats may contain potentially unsafe levels of arsenic, raising concerns about long-term health risks for pets.
The research, conducted by researchers from King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang (KMITL) in collaboration with WildAid and Ocean Blue Tree, found that whole dried sharks, often marketed as beneficial for dogs’ oral, joint, and bone health, contained arsenic concentrations exceeding safety limits.
Shark-based pet dental chews for dogs and cats, often marketed for their perceived health benefits, have seen a quiet but steady growth in Thailand’s rapidly growing pet industry. Traders suggest the presence of protein, calcium, and other nutrients support bone, teeth, and joint health.
To evaluate the purported health claims, KMITL researchers conducted toxicological and essential element analysis of 50 samples of cartilage and 12 whole dried shark products. This analysis was part of a project aimed at reducing consumer demand for shark-derived products, particularly pet treats.
The project also includes DNA research to identify the shark species used in these products, with the findings intended to inform future conservation strategies and strengthen trade regulations.
The study found that arsenic levels exceeded safe limits in 50 percent of the whole dried shark samples. Previous research has linked arsenic exposure to the development of several diseases in dogs, including myocarditis, dermatitis, and kidney and liver damage.
In addition, traces of other heavy metals, such as cadmium and mercury, were detected in both shark cartilage and whole dried shark products, even though their concentrations remained within the maximum tolerable levels (MTL). Prior research cautions that long-term exposure to such metals could lead to adverse health effects, such as kidney damage or neurological impairment.
“Long term consumption of these products may pose health risks to dogs and cats, due to cumulative effects of metal exposure. As predators at the top of the food chain with long lifespans, sharks are particularly prone to prolonged accumulation of toxic substances,” said Assistant Professor Dr. Wanlada Klangnurak, lead researcher and lecturer at the Faculty of Agriculture Technology, KMITL.
Assistant Professor Dr. Wanlada Klangnurak
Meanwhile, calcium concentrations in shark cartilage surpassed the maximum nutritional limit for dry dog food. While short-term intake is not immediately harmful, it provides no added health benefits and prolonged excessive intake can lead to issues like hypercalcemia and formation of kidney or bladder stones.
More concerning, sodium levels were approximately four times higher than the recommended level for both dry dog and cat food, which may lead to long-term health issues, particularly those with pre-existing conditions such as kidney disease, hypertension, or cardiac disorders, if consumed regularly.
“According to this study, alternative calcium sources such as fish bone contained no detectable cadmium or mercury and showed lower levels of arsenic compared to shark-based products, suggesting they could be a safer option. Additionally, the elevated sodium levels should be strictly monitored to avoid potential health risks associated with excessive sodium consumption in pets,” added Dr. Wanlada.
Pet ownership in Thailand is increasingly characterized by the trend of “pet parenting,” where animals are treated as companions or family members. This shift has led to increased demand for premium and functional pet products, including dental treats.
A survey of 419 pet owners across Bangkok and key provinces, conducted by Suan Dusit Poll of Suan Dusit University, found that the main motivations for purchasing were the perceived beneficial nutrients for pet health (67%) and interestingly, the belief that purchasing these treats expresses love and care (38%).
However, concerns about product safety and sustainability are likely to influence future purchasing decisions. Knowledge of the ecological impacts of shark-derived ingredients remains limited, highlighting the need for greater public education, particularly among dog owners.
In recent years, WildAid has observed an emerging and worrying trend of shark-based pet snacks. Over 10 different types of dog and cat treats made from sharks have been advertised by over 100 online retailers.
By mid-2024, we observed that many vendors no longer advertise these products as ‘sharks’, but instead brand them as fish cartilage or bone. This new marketing tactic is concerning as consumers may unknowingly purchase items made from sharks due to less transparent labeling.
Globally, more than 80 million sharks are killed each year due to overfishing and the demand for their parts. Of these, around 25 million or one-third belong to species at risk of extinction.
A separate study conducted by P.I.Y.A. Research, a local research firm in Thailand, involving interviews with 50 pet product sellers, revealed a widespread lack of awareness regarding the species used, their sources, and production processes. Most sellers believed these products were merely by-products of the seafood processing industry.
“Many people assume these products are simply by-products of existing fisheries and believe that using every part of the animal is a more sustainable choice. But this is a misconception. In an age when over one-third of all shark species are at risk of extinction, ‘full utilization’ does not equate to sustainable use. They create new demand, disincentivize efforts to reduce shark bycatch, and risk turning waste into a commercial incentive,” said Dr. Petch Manopawitr, Conservation Scientist and Advisor to WildAid.
WildAid’s internal research and interviews with pet product traders confirmed that the majority of these products lack species-specific labeling and traceability. Supporting such products risks sending the wrong signal in a time of escalating ecological crisis.
“Until we can ensure that shark products are sourced and traded legally, ethically, and sustainably both domestically and internationally, the most responsible choice for consumers is to avoid any shark-derived products altogether,” added Dr. Petch.
Sharks play a vital role in maintaining healthy marine ecosystems. As apex and mesopredators, they help control prey populations, prevent trophic imbalances, and promote overall biodiversity.
In response to the findings, WildAid, in collaboration with Ocean Blue Tree, is launching a campaign to raise awareness about the risks that shark-based products pose to both pets and shark populations in an effort to curb consumption, and planning to work with government agencies to strengthen trade monitoring and traceability of these products.
BANGKOK — Business operators in Thailand’s tourism sector are calling on the government to urgently clarify and relax enforcement under the new Alcoholic Beverage Control Act, warning that confusion and strict rules could drive away foreign tourists during the peak season.
The new law, which took effect on November 8, 2025, replaced the previous alcohol control framework but left uncertainty over its enforcement and accompanying regulations.
Sa-nga Ruangwattanakul, president of the Khaosan Road Business Association, said on Sunday that operators across Thailand’s service and nightlife industries are struggling to understand the law’s scope and penalties.
“One concern is that if tourists continue drinking after 2 p.m. or past 1 a.m. — even if there’s just half a beer left — both the customer and the venue could face fines of up to 10,000 baht,” Sagha said, adding that several foreign embassies have already warned their citizens in Thailand about the restrictions.
Sa-nga Ruangwattanakul, president of the Khaosan Road Business Association
He said various associations — including the Thai Alcohol Beverage Business Association, the Hotel Association, nightlife groups, and tourism operators — plan to meet this week to compile recommendations for Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and related ministries. The group hopes to discuss possible adjustments, such as extending service hours or zoning, to align with foreign tourist behavior.
“We need clarity. The uncertainty surrounding this new law risks becoming a major obstacle for tourism and spending, especially as the high season begins,” Sagha said. “European travelers, who make up the majority of visitors on Khaosan Road, are used to drinking in the afternoon and into the night. Without clear rules, restaurants and hotels that are not licensed as entertainment venues will struggle to operate — and foreign tourists may simply choose to go elsewhere.”
He added that Australia had already issued travel advisories, while the U.K. and U.S. are monitoring the situation. “If Thailand doesn’t act quickly, we may lose foreign visitors to competing destinations,” he warned.
Ruangwattanakul also noted that despite being the high season, spending remains weak. “Usually, the last two months of the year and early January bring 20–30% higher revenues, sometimes even 50% in certain areas. But this November feels unusually quiet.”
Meanwhile, Chanin Rungtanakiat, deputy secretary-general of the opposition Pheu Thai Party, said the confusion stems from the government’s failure to update related decrees after revoking a decades-old junta-era ban on alcohol sales between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.
That 1992 regulation, Chanin said, was “overly broad and outdated.” He urged the administration to follow through by lifting related prime ministerial orders that continue to restrict sales hours, particularly in tourism areas.
Pheu Thai Party deputy secretary-general Chanin Rungtanakiat urges the government to swiftly lift restrictions on alcohol sales between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m., following the enforcement of Thailand’s new Alcoholic Beverage Control Act on Nov. 8, 2025.
“The new law was designed to decentralize control to provincial committees — including officials, local administrators, and private sector representatives — so they can tailor alcohol regulations to local contexts,” he said. “Tourist provinces like Phuket could adopt more relaxed measures, while Muslim-majority areas could maintain stricter controls.”
Rungtanakiat also noted that the new law modernizes rules for small-scale producers and community distilleries, allowing them to promote their products more openly. But those benefits remain stalled because the government has yet to issue necessary secondary regulations.
“Tourism is Thailand’s main economic driver,” Chanin said. “The government must act swiftly to unlock these regulatory barriers. Every day of delay is a lost opportunity for the economy.”
This photo released by Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency shows migrants handed over to authorities after they were rescued by a sailboat, in waters off northern resort island of Langkawi, Malaysia, Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025. (Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency via AP)
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Rescuers in Malaysia recovered the bodies of seven migrants from Myanmar and found 13 alive from a boat that capsized with dozens aboard, officials said Sunday.
The vessel had departed from the town of Buthidaung, in Myanmar’s Rakhine state, carrying some 300 people, said First Adm. Romli Mustafa from the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, citing a preliminary investigation.
Police and the maritime agency said the passengers were believed to have been split into three smaller boats once the vessel neared Malaysia. One of the boats was believed to have sank near Tarutao island in southern Thailand on Thursday, and some of the victims drifted into Malaysia’s northern resort island of Langkawi, the authorities said.
The timing and exact location of the incident is not known. The fate of the other two boats is also unclear, officials said.
Local media quoted the Kedah state police chief in northern Malaysia, Adzli Abu Shah, as saying that some of those rescued were Rohingya Muslims, from Myanmar, where they have faced persecution for decades. Romli warned in a statement that cross-border syndicates are becoming increasingly active in exploiting migrants using perilous sea routes.
The maritime agency said rescuers found 10 migrants and recovered the body of a woman from the sea on Saturday. Another six bodies were discovered Sunday as well as three survivors, it said, adding it has expanded the area of the search that will continue on Monday.
The U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees urged regional governments to step up search and rescue efforts and take action to prevent such tragedies.
So far this year, some 5,200 Rohingya refugees have embarked on dangerous maritime journeys, with nearly 600 reported to be missing or dead, said UNHCR spokesman Diogo Alcantara.
In January, Malaysian authorities turned away two boats carrying nearly 300 people believed to be Muslim Rohingya refugees who were trying to enter the country illegally. Malaysia is a popular destination because of its dominant Malay Muslim population.
Malaysia has accepted Rohingya in the past on humanitarian grounds but has tried to limit their numbers, fearing a mass influx of people arriving on boats. There are around 117,670 Rohingya refugees registered with the UNHCR in Malaysia — about 59% of the total refugee population in the country.
Thai Police arrest four Chinese nationals suspected of running an AI-based online scam from a Bangkok condominium on November 9, 2025.
BANGKOK — Thai police have arrested four Chinese nationals accused of running an online scam operation in Bangkok and are seeking the arrest of Cambodian Senator Ly Yong Phat in a related money-laundering investigation, officials said Sunday.
Assistant National Police Chief Lt. Gen. Jiraphop Phuridej and Pol. Maj. Gen. Teeradej Thamsuthee, deputy commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, led the raid at City Lake Tower Condominium on Sukhumvit Soi 16 in Khlong Toei district. Officers from the Metropolitan Police, Crime Suppression Division and Thong Lor Police Station joined the operation.
The suspects were identified as Xiahou Xin, 29; Liu Ming, 28; Li Lei, 22; and Zeng Lingquan, 21, all Chinese nationals who recently entered Thailand from Cambodia on tourist visas.
Police seized two desktop computers allegedly used for editing videos and facial manipulation, two laptops containing records of financial transactions in Cambodia, 60 mobile phones, two small bags of crystal methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.
Jiraphop said the raid followed an investigation that traced the suspects to a Chinese scam network. The group allegedly used the condo as a base for producing fake video clips and conducting fraudulent financial transactions.
During questioning, the suspects admitted they were hired through the Telegram messaging app to modify videos and handle financial transactions for a Chinese-run scam syndicate. They said they earned between 20,000 and 30,000 yuan ($2,800-4,200) a month and sometimes received bonuses for meeting targets.
Investigators believe the group had previously operated in Cambodia and Malaysia, and that several senior Chinese ringleaders have fled Cambodia and are now hiding in Thailand.
All four were charged with participating in a transnational criminal organization, belonging to a secret society, and possession of a Category 1 narcotic. Police are continuing to trace their network and examine digital evidence.
Related Raids Target Cambodian Senator’s Network
On the same day, officers from the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) and the Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) carried out coordinated raids at 36 locations in Bangkok and Trat Province, targeting assets linked to Ly Yong Phat, a 67-year-old Cambodian senator of Chinese-Thai descent and a prominent businessman from Koh Kong Province. He is the owner of LYP Group, one of Cambodia’s largest business conglomerates.
Among the most notable sites searched were two condominium units on Sukhumvit Road in Bangkok, believed to be connected to Ly’s network. Officers found no residents inside—only property management staff overseeing the premises—but seized financial documents and property records.
Authorities seize a luxury car with license plate 8888 during a raid linked to Cambodian Senator Ly Yong Phat’s alleged money-laundering network, on November 9, 2025.
Investigators also confiscated a land plot worth about 5 million baht ($154,345) in Wang Krajae subdistrict, Mueang District, Trat Province, along with bank accounts containing more than 88.2 million baht ($2.7 million).
Authorities said the raids stemmed from a cybercrime probe that uncovered links between Ly and a major Chinese-led scam and money-laundering network. Evidence suggested the group operated as an organized criminal enterprise, dividing roles between members to handle illicit funds and profits.
Police later obtained arrest warrants for five suspects in the network — Ly Yong Phat himself, his close associate Chokchai Supapha, 37, and three Chinese nationals — on charges of conspiracy to commit money laundering and participation in an organized transnational crime network.
