A Chinese man wanted in connection with a multi-million-dollar Bitcoin fraud case was caught trying to escape Thailand at Don Mueang Airport.
Authorities detained Tianwei, 39, early Thursday morning as he attempted to board a Lion Air flight bound for Singapore, putting an end to a month-long search.
The case began late April when two Chinese nationals reported losing about 200 million baht (roughly $6.15 million) in Bitcoin following a business meeting in Chiang Rai’s Mae Sai district.
The victims claimed they transferred Bitcoin to Tianwei’s digital wallet after discussions about investment returns but never received any promised profits.
An arrest warrant was issued by Chiang Rai Provincial Court on 16 May, charging Tianwei with fraud.
On 12 June 2025, Thai Immigration Police officers at Don Mueang Airport apprehended a Chinese suspect in connection with a $6.15 million Bitcoin fraud case.
Intelligence suggested he planned to flee the country, prompting immigration officers to keep a close watch on international departures at Don Mueang Airport.
At 6 a.m. local time on 12 June, immigration officers identified and stopped Tianwei at the departure gate for Lion Air flight SL100.
Sergeant Suwaphan Utsaha, commander of the Don Mueang Immigration checkpoint, acted as interpreter during the arrest to explain the suspect’s rights and charges.
Tianwei confirmed his identity and stated he had not been arrested previously in connection to this case.
Following the arrest, the suspect was transferred to Mae Sai Police Station to face legal proceedings.
During the arrest, officers directed the suspect to surrender all personal belongings as part of standard procedure.
Thailand is known for its strict stance on foreign fraud cases.
Archer Wolfe, founder of the crypto consultancy MohrWolfe, commented on the likely tough treatment:
“It’s no surprise that Thai immigration continues cracking down on fraud amongst foreigners—they’re famous for their hardcore measures.”
Wolfe added that once suspects are caught, authorities “will dissect your entire life, starting with your smartphone and every conversation you have in it.”
He also predicted that Tianwei is likely to be extradited back to China.
Regarding the stolen Bitcoin, Wolfe said the Thai government “is then going to keep that Bitcoin unless an exorbitant fee is paid and simply close the book.”
This arrest fits into a broader pattern of crypto-related fraud enforcement across Asia.
Recently, India’s Central Bureau of Investigation detained a cybercrime suspect and seized over $327,000 in crypto assets linked to scams targeting the U.S. and Canada.
In Vietnam, authorities cracked down on the Matrix Chain pyramid scheme after a long investigation, arresting five suspects who allegedly defrauded nearly 185,000 victims out of close to $400 million.
Earlier this year, Thai and Chinese police cooperated to arrest two Chinese nationals in a separate case, confiscating $2.5 million worth of Tether’s USDT stablecoin from a scam operation.
These coordinated efforts highlight increased vigilance in the region against cryptocurrency fraud and scams.
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