Chinese loan sharks arrested in Pattaya

Chinese loan sharks arrested in Pattaya

Pol Gen Chalermkiart Srivorakhan, deputy national police chief, third from left, and senior Pattaya police show mobile phones and other items seized from the nine Chinese loan sharks caught during raids on three houses in Pattaya, Chon Buri, at a news conference on Tuesday. (Photo by Chaiyot Pupattanapong)
Pol Gen Chalermkiart Srivorakhan, deputy national police chief, third from left, and senior Pattaya police show mobile phones and other items seized from the nine Chinese loan sharks caught during raids on three houses in Pattaya, Chon Buri, at a news conference on Tuesday. (Photo by Chaiyot Pupattanapong)

CHON BURI: Nine members of a Chinese loan-sharking gang operating a business in Pattaya charging borrowers in China 30% interest a month have been arrested during raids on three rented houses in Pattaya.

They were found with a list of customers, many computers, mobile phones and other items at houses in tambon Nong Prue in Bang Lamung district, Pol Gen Chalermkiart Srivorakhan, deputy national police chief, told a media briefing on Tuesday.

Police seized 15 computers, 38 mobile phones, 250 sets of documents about their customers, and other items as evidence.

Police were acting on information that some Chinese nationals were using Pattaya and nearby areas as a base for an illegal money lending service, the deputy national police chief said.

An investigation led to the raids on the three houses and the arrest of the suspects.  

After interrogating them, police said the suspects had colluded with compatriots in Hong Kong to lend money to customers, mainly in China, at 30% a month interest. Most loans were in the range 4,000-20,000 baht.

The gang had run this illegal business from Pattaya for at least two years, with around 10,000 customers and tens of millions of baht in circulation.

They were charged with collusion in providing an illegal money lending service and being foreign nationals with temporary stay visas running an unlicensed business.


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