- Four Chinese suspects forced a victim to transfer $2M in crypto before fleeing with the evidence and a stolen car.
- Thailand’s recent crypto crime crackdown, “The Purge,” highlights the rising threat of digital asset fraud.
- The stolen vehicle from the Pathum Thani robbery was found, but suspects remain elusive amid a broader crypto crime investigation.
In a brazen attack on a luxury home in Pathum Thani, Thailand, police are actively searching for four Chinese suspects who orchestrated a dramatic heist involving cryptocurrency. The robbery, which occurred early on Wednesday morning, saw the perpetrators force their victim to transfer $2 million in digital assets before making a swift getaway as reported by Colin Wu. The incident has stunned both local residents and authorities, highlighting the growing threat of cryptocurrency-related crimes.
The attack unfolded around 2 a.m. at a residence in Tambon Ban Mai, Muang district. The victim, identified as 35-year-old Chinese businessman Ke Jibao, was asleep with his wife when the intruders struck.
Armed with guns and knives, the suspects, all masked, broke into the home and subdued Ke, his wife, and a maid by tying them up. They then demanded that Ke contact a relative in China to transfer a substantial amount of cryptocurrency to their account.
The Robbery’s Aftermath and Investigation
Following the successful transfer, the criminals took the home’s security camera servers, erasing any recorded evidence of their actions, and fled in the victim’s black Toyota Alphard. The vehicle was later discovered abandoned near a power plant, but the robbers remain at large. The police have transported the car to the Police Forensic Science Centre 1 for further examination.
The severity of the incident is underscored by the injuries sustained during the robbery. Ke Jibao suffered a knife wound to his wrist, while a male servant, Chen Mingfa, sustained a facial injury from being struck with a gun. Despite the violence, the motive behind the robbery remains unclear, as does how the gang identified Ke’s relative.
A Broader Pattern of Crypto Crimes
This heist is part of a broader pattern of cryptocurrency-related crimes in Thailand. Recently, Thai authorities seized over 250 million baht ($6.79 million) in a crackdown on fraudulent cryptocurrency schemes.
Dubbed “The Purge,” the operation exposed a network of scammers who deceived victims into investing in fake cryptocurrency platforms. They directed victims to transfer USDT to various wallet addresses.
ezBtc’s Smillie Found Guilty of $9.5M in Customer Fund FraudMoreover, in connection with the fraudulent activities, Thai cyber authorities have conducted extensive searches, arresting three Chinese nationals and confiscating assets valued at over 1.9 billion baht ($51.6 million).
These assets included luxury condos, cars, and brand-name goods. The Royal Thai Police, collaborating with the Anti-Money Laundering Office and Binance, have made significant strides in addressing cryptocurrency fraud and money laundering.
