A Chinese national has been apprehended at Don Mueang International Airport in Bangkok in connection with an alleged in-flight theft operation that targeted passengers’ cash and credit cards, resulting in nearly 293,000 baht in unauthorized transactions for two victims. The suspect, identified as Zheng Yu Qlang, a 51-year-old Chinese citizen, was arrested by Don Mueang Police Station officers in collaboration with airport personnel under a Criminal Court warrant. He faces charges of theft at an airport and the unauthorized use of another person’s electronic card.
During the arrest, authorities seized several items, including credit cards, two mobile phones, banknotes from 12 different foreign countries, and over 35,950 baht in Thai currency. The investigation was initiated following a report from a passenger who traveled from Chiang Rai to Don Mueang on October 5 and subsequently noticed suspicious credit card activity. Shortly after the flight landed, the victim received an alert for an unsuccessful payment attempt of 4,000 yuan, approximately 20,000 baht, in Heyuan, Guangdong province, China. However, a review of the banking application revealed three successful transactions totaling 62,000 Hong Kong dollars, equivalent to about 265,067 baht. The passenger believed their credit card had been stolen from luggage stored in the aircraft’s overhead compartment.
Two days later, another passenger arriving at Don Mueang from Chiang Mai reported a similar incident. This victim discovered that 25,000 baht in cash and a credit card were missing from their bag, which had been placed in the overhead storage. A friend had reportedly observed a man appearing to search through the overhead luggage and captured his suspicious behavior on video. Following the flight’s arrival, the victim received notifications of four attempted credit card transactions, two of which were successful, amounting to approximately 27,595 baht. Both of these successful transactions were linked to the same Chinese city previously identified in the initial complaint.
Investigators reviewed passenger records and determined that Zheng had been on both flights, according to reports from Thai media. During initial questioning, Zheng reportedly denied any involvement in the thefts, stating that he had entered Thailand as a tourist on October 3 and was traveling alone. Police, however, suspect that other individuals may have been part of the alleged operation. The investigative theory suggests that the suspects waited until approximately 30 minutes after take-off, when passengers were settling in to rest, before searching through overhead luggage under the pretense of retrieving their own belongings. Authorities are also looking into how the stolen cards were utilized so rapidly after landing, raising suspicions about the potential use of portable payment equipment.