Thai authorities are cracking down on a suspected cybercrime ring, targeting millions of dollars in assets believed to be linked to a Chinese hacker. The investigation focuses on Wang YunHe, who is accused of using Thailand to launder money earned through cybercrime activities.
According to Thailand’s Central Investigation Bureau, Wang and his associates invested heavily in Thai properties and company shares. In cooperation with US authorities, Thai police conducted raids in Chon Buri province, seizing cash, luxury goods, and land titles from properties connected to Wang. This represents at least 88 million baht (US$2.5 million) recovered so far.
This action follows a broader international effort to dismantle a massive botnet – a network of compromised computers used for cyberattacks – allegedly controlled by Wang. Last week, the FBI announced the takedown of this botnet, believed to be the world’s largest, consisting of 19 million infected computers. Wang faces charges related to deploying malware and operating a service that facilitated cybercrime activities.
Thai authorities are seeking a court order to freeze additional assets belonging to Wang and his associates. This will require a formal request from US officials. The targeted assets reportedly include bank accounts, cryptocurrency holdings, vehicles, and real estate in Thailand.
