Shock Arrest on Bangkok Street
Police swoop in broad daylight.
Officers from Thailand’s Economic Crime Suppression Division (ECD) arrest a woman named Wimol, 55, on Ngam Wong Wan Road, Chatuchak. “She’s in custody,” confirms ECD commander Police Colonel Tasaphum Jaruprat.
Wimol faces two arrest warrants—one issued on 25 April 2024, another dated 26 February 2025. The charges? Conspiracy to commit fraud, money laundering, inputting false data into computer systems, and membership in a transnational crime organisation.
Billions Washed Through Thai Banks
Investigators say Wimol opened bank accounts for foreign nationals.
She allegedly helped launder more than 5 billion Baht for an international criminal syndicate. The staggering sum exposes the scale of a network operating in the shadows for years.
Police call the arrest a major blow to organised crime in Thailand. “Money laundering like this often links to drugs and human trafficking,” warn authorities.
Criminal Past Comes Back to Haunt
Wimol is no stranger to the law.
She previously served time in the Central Women’s Correctional Institution. Her crime? Involvement in a separate fraud case causing losses of 9 million Baht.
ECD officers kept her under close watch after her release. Their patience pays off—she’s picked up on the street, proof that old habits die hard.
Wimol’s Confession: Lured by a Stranger
During questioning, Wimol admits she was approached in 2023.
An unknown woman convinced her to open bank accounts for an “online business.” Wimol handed over the account details—then lost all contact.
Only later does she learn her accounts are being used for illegal activities. Police are now checking her story.
Police Probe Deepens
Wimol is handed to ECD Sub-division 3 for further action.
Officers believe a much larger crime syndicate is pulling the strings behind the scenes. Experts warn such account abuse is on the rise.
“Criminal gangs often target unsuspecting citizens as fronts,” say police. The legal fallout for these ‘mules’ can be devastating.
What will investigators uncover next in this high-stakes case?
