BANGKOK, THAILAND – Thailand’s police reported a record year in 2025 in their campaign against money laundering and organized crime, seizing criminal assets worth billions.
Record seizures and frozen bank accounts
The Anti-Money Laundering Center of the Royal Thai Police said it had confiscated assets worth 10 billion baht, roughly 250 million euros, over the past year. In addition, officers froze 800 bank accounts that had been used as so-called mule accounts for illicit financial flows. A high-profile operation targeting a supply network for these accounts led to the arrest of 32 suspects.
“We are cutting off the money laundering routes that are linked to the shadow economy.”
said Police Colonel Chaiyapaj Suwanraksa, secretary of the center.
Drugs dominate underlying crime statistics
Statistics on the underlying offences showed that drug crimes, with 182,078 cases, remained by far the largest category, followed by property offences and fraud. In money-laundering cases pursued directly, drugs again topped the list with 293 cases, ahead of online gambling with 127 and fraud with 73. Nationwide, authorities conducted 744 criminal proceedings for money laundering, which police described as a central pillar of broader crime control.
Operation “Khayee Hua Jai Thotsakan” hailed as milestone
A major success was the operation code-named “Khayee Hua Jai Thotsakan”, which dismantled a network dedicated to procuring front accounts. More than 33 million baht (about 825,000 euros) were returned to defrauded victims in the course of the crackdown. A parallel operation against fraud networks contributed to the arrests and to the multi-billion-baht seizures.
Orders for more proactive investigations
The center’s leadership, Police General Ittipol Atchariyapradit and his deputy, instructed all units to act proactively and to speed up investigations. Officials framed the focus on tracing illegal financial flows as a way to weaken organized structures rather than only individual offenders. The emphasis on returning millions to victims illustrated a strong focus on victim protection.
Two flagship projects set for 2026
For 2026, the center announced two flagship projects under the anti-money laundering law. The first aimed at faster and more effective prosecution so that criminal offences could be processed more quickly and illicit proceeds either transferred to the state or restituted to victims. The second project was an extensive practical training program designed to deepen officers’ understanding of the complex legal framework.
Building capacity to hit criminal finances harder
The training was intended to help investigators collect evidence more securely and seize assets more effectively. According to the official line, authorities sought both tangible results and stronger investigative teams.
“We want to achieve tangible results while at the same time strengthening the capabilities of our investigation teams.”
said officials at the center.
Escalating financial pressure on criminal networks
The annual balance sheet was presented as a clear message to criminal networks inside and outside Thailand that illegal profits would be pursued with maximum intensity and specialized methods. Police announced that in 2026 they would increase pressure on the financial flows of the underworld even further, with a particular focus on organized crime and its funding structures. Authorities framed frozen accounts, seized assets and disrupted financial channels as tools to break entire systems rather than only punish individual crimes.