Thailand arrests 10 over cross-border HK ATM laundering scheme worth 1.32m yuan

Thai police, in cooperation with Interpol, arrested 10 suspects, including two Chinese nationals and eight Thai nationals, in a cross-border money laundering scheme involving Hong Kong ATMs.

The syndicate is believed to have laundered around 1.32 million yuan (HK$1.49 million) last December. Investigations revealed that in just one month, the syndicate made 82 withdrawals from 29 “money mule” accounts in Hong Kong, totaling nearly 6 million Thai baht.

According to Thai media, the group lured victims into transferring funds into designated accounts. Thai nationals, known as “Flying Horses,” were then hired to use bank cards with international withdrawal functions to collect cash from Hong Kong ATMs.

To avoid detection, the gang accepted high transaction fees and exchange rate losses. After their operations in Thailand were exposed, they reportedly relocated to Malai city in Cambodia’s Banteay Meanchey province.

All 10 suspects were apprehended through cross-border information sharing and evidence collection. Under Thai law, offenders face 1–10 years in prison and fines of up to 500,000 baht. Legal proceedings are ongoing.