US Prosecutors Investigate Suspected NVIDIA Chip Smuggling to China via Thailand, Allegedly Involving Alibaba
US prosecutors are investigating allegations that a Thai AI-related company, OBON, helped smuggle billions of dollars worth of Super Micro Computer servers equipped with NVIDIA's advanced chips to China. Alibaba Group Holding is reportedly one of the end customers, but Alibaba denies involvement.
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- 📰 Published: May 8, 2026 at 18:11
- 🔍 Collected: May 8, 2026 at 18:31 (20 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 8, 2026 at 21:50 (3h 18m after Collected)
CENTRAL NEWS AGENCY
(Central News Agency, New York, 8th Comprehensive Foreign Report) Media cited sources as saying that a company related to Thailand's national AI program is suspected of assisting in smuggling billions of dollars worth of Super Micro Computer servers equipped with NVIDIA's advanced chips to China.
The intermediary buyer in this NVIDIA chip smuggling case is an unnamed Southeast Asian company, which US prosecutors call "Company-1."
Bloomberg News reported today, citing sources, that this company is OBON, headquartered in Bangkok, Thailand, and that Alibaba Group Holding of China is among its many end customers.
Reuters was unable to immediately verify this report. NVIDIA, Super Micro Computer, and Alibaba Group did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment, and OBON could not be immediately reached.
An Alibaba spokesperson told Bloomberg that the company has no business relationship with Super Micro Computer, OBON, or any third-party brokers that may be mentioned in the US prosecutor's indictment.
In March of this year, the US Department of Justice accused Super Micro Computer co-founder Charles Liang and others of conspiring to transport US-made servers to Southeast Asia via Taiwan, where they were repackaged into unmarked boxes and then smuggled to China.
US prosecutors claim they diverted at least $2.5 billion worth of US artificial intelligence (AI) technology.
Sources told Bloomberg that a portion of the $2.5 billion worth of servers sold to OBON flowed to Alibaba.
In 2022, the US government banned the export of NVIDIA's high-end chips to China, citing concerns that they could be used for military purposes. However, in January of this year, the US approved the export of NVIDIA H200 chips under specific conditions. (Compiler: Chen Yen-chun) 1150508
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(Central News Agency, New York, 8th Comprehensive Foreign Report) Media cited sources as saying that a company related to Thailand's national AI program is suspected of assisting in smuggling billions of dollars worth of Super Micro Computer servers equipped with NVIDIA's advanced chips to China.
The intermediary buyer in this NVIDIA chip smuggling case is an unnamed Southeast Asian company, which US prosecutors call "Company-1."
Bloomberg News reported today, citing sources, that this company is OBON, headquartered in Bangkok, Thailand, and that Alibaba Group Holding of China is among its many end customers.
Reuters was unable to immediately verify this report. NVIDIA, Super Micro Computer, and Alibaba Group did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment, and OBON could not be immediately reached.
An Alibaba spokesperson told Bloomberg that the company has no business relationship with Super Micro Computer, OBON, or any third-party brokers that may be mentioned in the US prosecutor's indictment.
In March of this year, the US Department of Justice accused Super Micro Computer co-founder Charles Liang and others of conspiring to transport US-made servers to Southeast Asia via Taiwan, where they were repackaged into unmarked boxes and then smuggled to China.
US prosecutors claim they diverted at least $2.5 billion worth of US artificial intelligence (AI) technology.
Sources told Bloomberg that a portion of the $2.5 billion worth of servers sold to OBON flowed to Alibaba.
In 2022, the US government banned the export of NVIDIA's high-end chips to China, citing concerns that they could be used for military purposes. However, in January of this year, the US approved the export of NVIDIA H200 chips under specific conditions. (Compiler: Chen Yen-chun) 1150508
Stand with facts, your every sponsorship is the power to protect press freedom.
Download the "First-hand News" APP of Central News Agency to get the latest news in real time.
The text, images, and audio-visual content of this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or used without authorization.