Luxury yacht ATLAS seized in Phuket on suspicion of fraud!

Luxury yacht ATLAS seized in Phuket on suspicion of fraud!

The luxurious yacht ATLAS is currently being examined in Phuket. This leisure yacht, built in 2017 under the Cayman Islands flag, is worth around 1.125 million baht. The reason for the investigation, which was launched on December 25, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. by the Thai Anti-Money Laundering Authority, known as ปปง., is suspected links to international fraud gangs. The authority already issued an order to seize the yacht on December 22, and the temporary seizure may take up to 90 days, reported today.line.me.

The seizure was announced as part of a comprehensive offensive against technology crime and is part of the Thai government's national agenda, decided on October 21, 2025. This offensive involves the cooperation of several institutions, including the Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO), the Ministry of Interior, the Royal Thai Police and the Special Investigation Office (DSI). Together they pursue the goal of protecting Thailand as a reliable financial partner and preventing cross-border fraud thailandblog.nl describes.

Investigations and seizures

Assets totaling over 10.165 billion baht linked to various call center fraud gangs have already been seized and frozen, according to AMLO spokesman Wittaya Neetitham. This shows the Thai government's increasing commitment to combating online fraud and money laundering. Numerous further investigations revealed additional property linked to these criminal networks.

The yacht ATLAS, described as part of a larger fraud and money laundering complex, has attracted intense interest from authorities. In order to justify the seizure, those affected have the opportunity to apply for a cancellation within 30 days of receiving the notice if they can prove that the yacht is not connected to any crime.

International challenges

Thailand is also facing international pressure to act more effectively against cross-border fraud networks. In this context, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul emphasized the importance of structural strengthening in the fight against cybercrime. The use of modern technologies and international cooperation are essential to combat the criminals' sophisticated methods. According to AMLO Chairman Chatchai Promlert, investments in analytical tools and artificial intelligence are necessary to identify suspicious transactions more quickly.

The seizure of the yacht ATLAS is therefore not just an isolated incident, but part of a comprehensive plan to ensure the security and integrity of the financial system in Thailand and to strengthen the trust of international partners in the country.