A Chinese fugitive was arrested in Thailand over mass financial fraud in his home country.

Pan, 41, allegedly ran a syndicate that cheated Chinese banks of an eye-watering 560 million CNY (59.8 million GBP).

The network was said to have set up fake businesses to obtain illegal loans, pocketing more than 80 million CNY (8.5 million GBP) in profits.

The Shanghai Economic Crime Investigation Unit issued warrants for the group in November 2024, but Pan had already slipped out of China months earlier.

Thai immigration officers traced him to 'Sin City' Pattaya, where he had been hiding for months with his girlfriend.

Police detained him at a nail salon which they had placed under surveillance for three months.

Pan allegedly admitted to being the subject of the warrant but denied any wrongdoings committed in China.

The suspected fugitive was charged with overstaying his visa and handed over to Bang Lamung police pending extradition.

Thailand has become a notorious hub for Chinese crime gangs operating cross-border fraud and human trafficking operations in neighbouring Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar.

Thai and Chinese authorities were coordinating to crack down on the transnational crime rings.

(1 GBP = 9.36 CNY)