Thailand Issues Arrest Warrant for Chinese Businessman Allegedly Involved in "Pig Butchering" Scam and Illegal Crypto Mining Money Laundering Worth Billions of Dollars

Odaily Planet Daily News The Thai government has officially issued an arrest warrant for Chinese businessman Wang Yicheng, accusing him of colluding with transnational criminal syndicates to launder billions of dollars through illegal cryptocurrency "mining" activities on behalf of cross-border internet fraud and online gambling syndicates. Reuters, citing an investigation by blockchain analytics firm TRM Labs, reported that Wang Yicheng's cryptocurrency wallet received at least $9.1 million (approximately HKD 71.35 million) between 2021 and 2022, with funds linked to "pig butchering" scams.

Thailand's Special Investigation Department stated in a statement that U.S. law enforcement agencies have confirmed Wang Yicheng's involvement in a digital asset fraud case. The U.S. side had previously traced the flow of stolen funds from a victim in Massachusetts to an account registered under Wang Yicheng's name and seized approximately $500,000 worth of cryptocurrency. (Lianhe Zaobao)