Vietnamese man wanted over alleged B150 million property scheme detained in Phuket

Thai immigration officers detained a 50-year-old Vietnamese man in Phuket on 6 October 2026 after INTERPOL issued a Red Notice over an alleged property sales scheme worth about B150 million.

Tang Ngoc Nho was traced to the area near Robinson Lifestyle shopping centre in Chalong district during a joint operation involving Phuket Immigration, Tourist Police, Special Branch Police and INTERPOL.

Vietnamese authorities allege that Tang was entrusted with selling land and other property across 10 projects worth about 80 billion Vietnamese dong, or around B150 million. Investigators allege that he failed to pass the sale proceeds to those entitled to them before fleeing Vietnam.

Police in Lao Cai province issued a warrant for Tang’s arrest on 12 May 2026. INTERPOL later issued a Red Notice seeking his location and detention, and the Vietnamese Embassy in Thailand asked Thai police to help find him.

Thai immigration records showed that Tang had entered the country legally and remained within his permitted stay. The Immigration Bureau later revoked his permission to remain after receiving information about the Vietnamese warrant.

Tang was transferred to Immigration Bureau investigators while arrangements were made to return him to Vietnam for legal proceedings.

Vietnamese police also linked him to a similar 2020 case involving alleged losses of about 15 billion dong. They are examining other land sales in which he is accused of misappropriating money, with estimated losses of about 200 billion dong, or B260 million. Other property transactions remain under investigation.

The detention formed part of MAHARLIKA 5, a joint campaign by the Royal Thai Police and INTERPOL running from 5 to 8 October. The campaign targets people wanted under Red Notices and other transnational threats across the Asia-Pacific region, and also includes security measures ahead of a World Bank meeting in Thailand.