Thai authorities are conducting an intensive search for two Russian nationals following a violent assault and robbery at a hotel in Karon Phuket, as reported by a local newspaper, highlighting the growing intersection of cryptocurrency and violent crime.
The incident unfolded when two associates allegedly attacked a 31-year-old Russian cryptocurrency investor over an outstanding digital currency debt. According to police reports, the primary suspect, identified only as Andrei, demanded $120,000 in repayment and attempted to force access to the victim’s crypto wallet under threat of death.
When the victim refused to comply, the suspects allegedly subjected him to a brutal assault, rendering him unconscious with a blow to the head. The attackers then made off with $20,000 in cash, leaving their victim bound in the hotel bathroom.
While one suspect has reportedly fled to Dubai, Thai law enforcement, working in conjunction with immigration authorities, continues to track Andrei, who is believed to remain within Thailand’s borders.
This incident joins a disturbing trend of cryptocurrency-related violence in 2024. In July, a tourist in Kyiv fell victim to a fatal kidnapping attempt targeting 3 Bitcoin, while August saw armed criminals impersonating police officers rob eleven Israeli tourists of their cryptocurrency holdings at a Costa Rican beach resort.
Thai authorities have issued arrest warrants for both suspects, and the investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information about the suspects’ whereabouts is urged to contact local law enforcement immediately.
In October, Thai immigration officials uncovered a cross-border cryptocurrency scam that defrauded a local woman, Ms. Mallika, of over $620,000. Five suspects from Cambodia, Myanmar, and Thailand were arrested for creating a fraudulent investment group that operated through a Facebook group called “Investor Chat Room.” The scammers gained the victim’s trust with high-yield investment offers and persuaded her to invest heavily in fake cryptocurrency and stock portfolios via the LINE messaging app.
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