Thailand Arrests Alleged Leader of Chinese Online Gambling Operation

(AsiaGameHub) –   Pei Min Si, identified as a prominent figure in the online gaming world, is currently being held by Thai police. The suspect, who has connections to the Shwe Kokko network, was apprehended on April 9 during an early morning operation at his refuge in Pattaya. This arrest was carried out pursuant to a warrant issued by the Chinese Embassy in Bangkok.

According to the Chiang Rai Times, Pei is considered a “key figure” within Myanmar’s illicit iGaming sector. It is alleged that this syndicate managed operations spanning over 239 channels, boasting more than 330,000 active users across 31 Chinese provinces. Online gambling remains strictly prohibited in China, with land-based gaming restricted solely to the special administrative region of Macau.

Reports indicate that Pei has been evading authorities since May 2024, after escaping Thailand to Laos utilizing a Chinese passport. However, he returned to the kingdom in August 2025 carrying a “golden passport” granted by St Kitts and Nevis.

The Caribbean nation’s “citizen-by-investment” initiative has faced criticism for allowing foreign nationals to purchase passports, occasionally without requiring physical presence. The financial requirements are substantial: a minimum contribution of $250,000, acquiring private real estate worth no less than $600,000, or investing at least $325,000 “in an approved development”. These costs were likely within reach for Pei. Authorities state that since 2016, his unlawful gambling enterprise has produced revenues of THB13.18 billion (US$409.8 million) and profits totaling approximately THB2.4 billion.

Shwe Kokko: The ‘scam capital’ of Myanmar

Myanmar authorities assert they are intensifying efforts against illicit iGaming and cyber fraud in Shwe Kokko, situated near the Thai frontier. During recent operations in this area, dubbed the “scam capital”, law enforcement confiscated and dismantled 3,300 computers and nearly 22,000 mobile devices utilized for processing online bets. However, the New York Times has characterized these raids as “performative”, suggesting they are a tactic employed by the Myanmar military junta to appease Beijing.

China maintains a strict zero-tolerance policy regarding these operations, which are frequently associated with additional criminal offenses including abduction, involuntary servitude, and the production and distribution of narcotics. In February, the Chinese state executed 11 individuals belonging to Myanmar’s infamous Ming family, who had been found guilty of telecommunications fraud, drug smuggling, and homicide.

In a documentary covering Myanmar’s notorious “Four Families”—a criminal consortium comprising the Bai, Liu, and Wei groups—an investigator noted that China targets these syndicates “to warn other people, no matter who you are, where you are, as long as you commit such heinous crimes against the Chinese people, you will pay the price”.