Singapore police have seized a luxury home worth 55 million Singapore dollars (£32m; $42.5m) that was allegedly purchased using proceeds from smuggling Nvidia artificial intelligence (AI) chips subject to US export controls, authorities said on Wednesday. At least two-thirds of the purchase price was allegedly funded by illicit earnings, according to the police.
The Seizure
The property, located a short walk from Singapore's Botanic Gardens in a prime district, is subject to an order preventing its sale during the investigation. The US Department of Justice has previously flagged Singapore as a key transit hub to conceal illegal shipments of chips to China.
Police have also seized approximately 1 million Singapore dollars held in bank accounts linked to the probe. The investigation focuses on the alleged illegal trade in servers containing advanced Nvidia chips that are subject to US export controls, which were restricted in 2022 over concerns they could be used by the Chinese military.
Charges and Arrests
Wei Zhaolun, also known as Alan Wei, will be charged with money laundering for allegedly using around 38 million Singapore dollars of criminal proceeds to fund the purchase of the house. Wei is the chief executive of Aperia Group, a company that sells servers and other tech hardware to businesses. The BBC has contacted Aperia Group for comment.
A total of four people, including Wei, have been charged since February 2025 over fraud and other alleged crimes linked to the case. The individuals allegedly placed orders for servers from global suppliers under the pretence that they would be used by companies they worked for. Authorities have not disclosed where the servers were ultimately shipped.
The servers in the case were bought from three suppliers: Dell, Super Micro Computer, and Asus. The BBC has contacted these companies for comment.
If convicted of fraud, the four, who face multiple charges, could face jail time of up to 20 years.
Corporate Prosecutions
In a first for these investigations, corporate entities are also being prosecuted. Singapore-based tech companies Luxuriate Your Life and three firms under the Aperia Group face charges. The BBC has been unable to reach Luxuriate Your Life for comment.
The police said it holds a 'zero-tolerance stance towards such offences' and will act against anyone who violates Singapore's laws to protect the country's integrity as a trusted global business hub.
Broader Crackdown
The US and Singapore have cracked down on the illegal shipping of Nvidia chips since Washington restricted their export in 2022 due to concerns about use by the Chinese military. Authorities in Singapore said in 2025 that servers containing chips under US export controls were believed to have been shipped via the island-state. The US has since approved the sale of some of Nvidia's semiconductors to China, under certain conditions.
This seizure underscores the ongoing enforcement efforts to prevent the circumvention of US export controls on advanced technology. For import/export professionals and trade policy analysts, the case highlights the risks of transshipment through Singapore and the legal consequences for companies and executives involved in such schemes.
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