BANGKOK, THAILAND – Thailand’s anti-money laundering agency moved to confiscate assets worth 13 billion baht in four major cases where suspects failed to prove the legal origin of their funds.
Amlo moves to lock down 13 billion baht
The transactions committee of the Anti-Money Laundering Office (Amlo) decided on Wednesday to bring in public prosecutors to seek court orders for the confiscation of already seized assets. Officials stated that those involved had not provided credible evidence that the money had been obtained legally. The total of 13.074 billion baht was linked to four separate case complexes, each revealing its own criminal network.
Foreign networks using Thailand as a hub
According to Amlo, all four cases followed a similar pattern in which foreign business figures allegedly used Thailand as a hub for dubious cross-border dealings. Each complex involved multiple accomplices and layers of transactions. The agency framed the moves as part of a broader push against transnational financial crime.
Yim Leak and Ben Smith at centre of largest case
The largest case focused on Cambodian businessman Yim Leak and lobbyist Benjamin Mauerberger, known as Ben Smith. Amlo officially listed the group under the names “Ms Taengthai, Mr Leak Yim, Mrs Wirinya, Mr Smith Ben, Ms Katreeya and accomplices” and accused them of public fraud. Authorities had already seized 68 assets worth 12.12 billion baht, including land, condominiums, luxury vehicles, yachts and bank deposits.
Chen Zhi linked to online fraud and trafficking
Another complex centred on Chen Zhi, the China-born founder of the Prince Group, whose conglomerate operated across borders in Cambodia. Investigators seized 96 assets with a value of 345 million baht. The allegations included online fraud, human trafficking and money laundering through cryptocurrencies.
Chen was already in custody in China after Beijing had him extradited in early January and brought him before a court there. The seized assets in Thailand comprised land, cash, luxury goods and jewellery tied to his operations.
Kok An case highlights depth of networks
A third case targeted Cambodian businessman Kok An and his associates. Arrests stemmed from investigations into transnational crime and money laundering activities. Prosecutors were instructed to pursue the confiscation of 89 assets worth 560 million baht, mainly land plots and bank accounts.
Officials said the case illustrated how deeply such structures could run, as Kok An allegedly relied on a wider network of accomplices rather than acting alone. The pattern suggested that large-scale schemes involved coordinated roles across multiple jurisdictions.
LINE investment scam hits individual victims
The smallest case in monetary terms involved a group that operated through the LINE chat application. The gang allegedly lured victims with investment offers and funneled their money into opaque channels. Prosecutors were asked to confiscate cash and bank deposits worth 46 million baht linked to the scam.
Authorities noted that such schemes had become more frequent as fraudsters increasingly used digital communication to build trust. Once transfers were made, the money was quickly shifted into hard-to-trace networks.
Questions over Thailand’s anti-money laundering drive
The scale of the planned confiscations impressed observers but also raised doubts about the broader strategy. Thailand remained under international scrutiny over its handling of financial crime and money laundering. Critics questioned whether the country was dismantling the underlying structures or focusing on individual headline cases.
“The figures are impressive – but is it enough just to confiscate assets?”
said unidentified critics, raising concerns about the long-term credibility of Thailand’s fight against money laundering.
“Are the structures really being dismantled, or is this only about isolated cases that look good in the media?”
said the same critical voices, reflecting ongoing scepticism about enforcement depth.