Thailand moves to seize US$1 billion in scam assets from money laundering group

Thai authorities have vowed to seize more than US$1 billion in assets from a group accused of laundering proceeds from Southeast Asia-based scam

A criminal court issued arrest warrants on Tuesday for the alleged ringleader, South African Benjamin Mauerberger, his Thai wife Cattaliya Beevor, Cambodian businessman Yim Leak and four others, police said.

Media reports have previously linked Smith, also known as Ben Smith, to transnational scam operations in Cambodia

, part of a multibillion-dollar illicit industry that has ballooned in the region.