PATTAYA, THAILAND – A ransom-style abduction involving Chinese nationals in South Pattaya was ended by a coordinated raid by Chonburi immigration and tourist police, who freed a 32-year-old man and arrested a compatriot suspect while another remained at large.
Hotel raid in South Pattaya
A police team moved in on a hotel in Moo 10 near South Pattaya Road, where investigators had identified a suspected hostage room. At the scene, officers arrested Liang Wei, 33, and freed his compatriot Jitao Liu, also 33, while a third suspect was not found in the room.
Wife’s complaint triggers investigation
The operation followed a notification from Crime Suppression Division Sub-division 1 of the central Immigration Bureau, after it received a complaint from 29-year-old Chinese woman Li Jianli. She had stated that her husband entered Thailand via Suvarnabhumi Airport on 7 February 2026, was picked up by Chinese acquaintances and initially accommodated in the greater Bangkok area.
Illegal gambling and mounting debts
According to the complainant, the acquaintances allegedly took her husband to illegal gambling venues. On 8 February 2026, he told her via the Telegram app that he had lost 300,000 baht and needed money to settle the claimed debts. She then transferred about 3,000 USDT, equivalent to roughly 100,000 baht, to a specified digital wallet to meet the demands, according to her account.
Location shared shortly before rescue
On 10 February 2026 at around 00:10, the man contacted his wife again and, for the first time, disclosed his location, which she immediately passed on to immigration officials in Chonburi. Officers then went to the hotel, found the room door locked from the outside, broke the lock and discovered both the allegedly detained Jitao Liu and suspect Liang Wei inside.
Charges, fugitive suspect and next steps
Investigators arrested Liang Wei and, after questioning, accused him of unlawfully detaining a person together with others and coercing a ransom payment. The suspect denied the allegations and, according to police, claimed that he too had been locked in from the outside, while a search was launched for 32-year-old Chinese national Zhang Lang, whose passport had been revoked.
Police leadership and reference to similar case
The raid was led by Pol. Col. Naphatphong Phositsuriyamanee, superintendent of Chonburi Immigration, along with his deputies Pol. Lt. Col. Pramote Fueangfung, Pol. Lt. Col. Prapda Suksuntree and Pol. Lt. Col. Aphichat Charurak of the Tourist Police Division, supported by additional immigration and tourist police units. Authorities stressed that they were examining legal action against all involved and pointed out that only a few days earlier a similar kidnapping case among Indian nationals in Pattaya had come to light.
Concerns over cross-border crime
Officials highlighted that the case illustrated how rapidly criminal networks could operate across borders and target foreign nationals.
“The case shows how quickly criminal networks can strike abroad and demand money through digital channels,”
said police officials, speaking through a summary of the operation.
“We are reviewing legal measures against everyone involved and monitoring similar patterns in other cases,”
said the same officials.