Singaporean authorities have seized a luxury mansion worth S$55 million ($42.5 million) as part of an investigation into the alleged smuggling of high-end Nvidia artificial intelligence (AI) chips in violation of U.S. export controls.
Police said the property, located in one of Singapore’s most exclusive residential districts near the Botanic Gardens, was allegedly purchased with proceeds from criminal activities linked to the illegal trade in AI servers containing advanced Nvidia chips.
According to investigators, at least S$38 million, about two-thirds of the property’s purchase price, was financed with illicit funds. A court order has been obtained to prevent the sale of the mansion while investigations continue.
Authorities announced that Wei Zhaolun, also known as Alan Wei, will be charged with money laundering for allegedly using criminal proceeds to finance the acquisition of the property. Wei is the chief executive of Aperia Group, a company that supplies servers and other technology hardware to businesses.
In addition to the mansion, police have frozen about S$1 million held in bank accounts believed to be connected to the investigation.
The case centres on the alleged fraudulent purchase and export of servers fitted with advanced Nvidia AI chips, which have been subject to strict U.S. export restrictions since 2022 over concerns they could be used to strengthen China’s military capabilities.
Investigators said four individuals have been charged since February 2025 with offences including fraud and money laundering. They allegedly ordered servers from global suppliers while falsely claiming the equipment was intended for companies they represented.
Authorities have not disclosed the final destination of the servers.
Police identified Dell, Super Micro Computer, and Asus as the suppliers from whom the servers were purchased. The companies have been contacted for comment.
If convicted of fraud, the accused face prison sentences of up to 20 years.
Singapore-based technology company Luxuriate Your Life, along with three companies under the Aperia Group, has also been charged. Police described the case as the first time corporate entities have been prosecuted under this investigation.
The U.S. Department of Justice has previously identified Singapore as a major transit point allegedly used to disguise illegal shipments of restricted technology destined for China.
Singaporean authorities reaffirmed their commitment to enforcing the law, saying they maintain a “zero-tolerance” approach to offences that threaten the country’s reputation as a trusted global business hub.
Singapore and the United States have intensified cooperation to curb the illegal movement of Nvidia chips since Washington imposed export restrictions on advanced semiconductors in 2022. While the U.S. has since permitted exports of certain Nvidia chips to China under specific conditions, restrictions remain on the most advanced AI processors.
