Chinese national Wang Shuiming, a fugitive wanted across Asia for his role in a multi-billion-dollar online gambling fraud, has been arrested at Tivat Airport in Montenegro.
Wang, 42, was detained upon arrival from the Maldives following an Interpol Red Notice issued by China. Authorities allege he orchestrated an illegal betting operation that defrauded users of at least $2.3 billion.
Montenegro’s border police confirmed that Wang was flagged through Interpol databases during routine checks on passengers arriving by private jet. The operation was part of the country’s intensified border security measures aimed at cracking down on financial crime and illicit activities. Chinese authorities have been tracking Wang for years over allegations of large-scale money laundering linked to his online gambling network.
According to reports, Wang entered Montenegro using a passport from the Republic of Vanuatu, one of four nationalities he has acquired. In addition to his Chinese citizenship, Wang is believed to hold Turkish, Cambodian, and Vanuatuan passports, raising concerns about his ability to move freely despite ongoing investigations.
His arrest is the latest development in a transnational crackdown on illicit gambling operations. Singaporean authorities previously flagged Wang’s suspicious financial dealings after he relocated there with his family in 2019. Legal proceedings in Singapore revealed inconsistencies in his statements about his Cambodian passport, with authorities suspecting he had obtained multiple nationalities through donations and questionable means.
Wang and his associates are accused of operating a sophisticated online betting platform that targeted Chinese nationals via mobile apps and digital gambling services. These platforms reportedly lured players into high-stakes wagers while facilitating large-scale money laundering operations across several jurisdictions. Law enforcement agencies believe his network laundered billions in gambling profits through an intricate web of financial and technology firms.
The scale of Wang’s alleged criminal enterprise became apparent last year when Singaporean authorities seized assets worth $2.3 billion from a group linked to him. A total of 10 individuals were arrested in August 2023, and an international search was launched for eight more suspects believed to be involved in the same operation. Wang was among those who managed to evade capture – until his arrest in Montenegro.
Authorities in Singapore have long linked Wang to Su Weiji, another high-profile Chinese national accused of defrauding investors through digital currencies and other financial schemes. Investigative reports from the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) suggest that Wang and his close associate Wang Bingang played key roles in Su Weiji’s network, facilitating money laundering through financial entities registered in various offshore jurisdictions.
Court documents indicate that Wang falsified corporate financial records to present a facade of legitimate business activities to banks. By manipulating financial statements, he was able to maintain the illusion of wealth while engaging in large-scale fraud. Reports from Lianhe Zaobao, a leading Singaporean Chinese-language newspaper, suggest that his operations spanned multiple countries, with direct links to organized crime groups involved in digital fraud and online gambling.
Despite being on law enforcement radars for years, Wang remained elusive, frequently changing locations and identities. His arrest in Montenegro marks a significant step in the international effort to dismantle illegal gambling syndicates operating across Asia and beyond. He is expected to be extradited to China, where he faces prosecution for financial crimes and fraud-related offenses.
