Wang Shuiming Arrested in Montenegro for Betting Fraud

According to the local border police, Wang was pinged by the Interpol databases during a routine check on passengers arriving by private jetImage Source: Shutterstock.com

Chinese national Wang Shuiming, a key figure in a $2.3 billion illegal betting operation, was arrested at Tivat Airport in Montenegroafter years of being tracked by Interpol.

Montenegrin Police Apprehend Wang Shuiming

There’s been a huge development in Singapore’slargest money laundering case following the arrest of Chinese national Wang Shuiming, who is among the masterminds of an illicit scheme that swindled users out of more than $2.3 billion. The 42-year-old man was apprehended at Tivat Airport in Montenegro after he arrived in the country from the Maldives.

According to the local border police, Wang was pinged by the Interpol databases during a routine check on passengers arriving by private jet. China had placed an Interpol Red Noticeon the man and has been tracking him down for several years due to allegations of large-scale money laundering.

Reports say that Wang entered the small Balkan country using his Vanuatu passport. It should be noted that this is only one of his citizenships, as he also holds passports from Turkey, Cambodia, and his place of birth – China. This is the first time Wang’s location has been revealed since his deportation from Singapore last year.

Wang Has Been on the Police’s Radar for Years

Wang is one of several individuals wanted for involvement in Singapore’s biggest money laundering scandals. He was linked with a fraudulent online betting platform aimed at Chinese nationals through mobile apps and digital gambling services. He was previously deported from Singapore to Japan on June 1, 2024, after serving a 13-month and six-week prison sentence. On May 14 of last year, Wang pleaded guilty to two counts of money laundering and one count of submitting a forged document to a bank.

Authorities initially apprehended Wang in Bishopsgate, near Orchard Road, on Aug 15, 2023, after he falsified corporate financial records to create the illusion of legitimate business activities for banks. At first, he told Singapore police that the source of his wealth was his loan business in China. However, he later retracted that statement, saying it was instead from gambling winnings and real estate investments in the Philippines. After serving his sentence, which was backdated to the day of his arrest and included a one-third remission, he was deported to Japan on June 1.

Furthermore, Wang was required to forfeit approximately $180 million of the $199 millionin seized assets, cash, and luxury items owned by him and his wife. This included $122 million in bank, portfolio and wealth accounts, 15 properties with a combined worth of $29.6 million, as well as three luxury cars – a Toyota Alphard, a Rolls-Royce Phantom, and a Bentley Flying Spur – worth $3.38 million.