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Phuket Raid: Gambling Mogul and 60 Million Baht Seized!
Police in Phuket arrested gambling operators in a raid that uncovered an illegal network involving 60 million baht.
Phuket Raid: Gambling Mogul and 60 Million Baht Seized!
In a major blow to Phuket's online gambling scene, police raided a luxury property in Wichit on October 30, arresting three suspects. This search, carried out as part of an operation by Region 8 Police, aims to dismantle an illegal gambling network that was generating over 60 million baht in monthly profits. According to The Thaiger, the house, located on Chao Fa East Road, was also used as a car dealership for high-priced luxury vehicles.
The raid is part of a nationwide offensive against online gambling taking place from October 27th to November 3rd under the orders of the Royal Thai Police. In addition to the three arrested, including the alleged operator of the gambling site and two administrators, police were also able to seize 1.6 million baht in cash and several luxury cars and motorcycles, which are believed to have been financed from illegal proceeds.
Joint investigations and comprehensive measures
Searches also took place at five other locations in close cooperation with the Phuket Provincial Police. Two other suspects who played key roles in the operation of the network were arrested. Major General Pornchai Khajornklin of the Region 8 Police stressed that the investigation, which also secured digital evidence, aims to uncover the entire network surrounding the “Uefa Red” website. This site had been constantly operating with tens of millions of baht in transactions.
What is particularly alarming is that the raid is part of a larger offensive by the Thai cyber police, which aims to uncover the machinations of an international criminal network with Operation “Island Lockdown”. This initiative was launched at the direction of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra to combat online crime and protect the public. Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) investigators have identified a complex system of financial transactions in Phuket linked to various gambling websites, such as GoatBet178 and Icb365, and also discovered an illegal payment system.
Priorities of the authorities
Thai authorities shut down nearly 30,000 online gambling websites and arrested more than 4,600 people engaging in illegal betting activities in the first quarter of 2025 alone. This is just part of ongoing efforts to strengthen the legal framework. According to Thailand Tip, people who organize or operate online gambling illegally can face up to three years in prison and a fine of up to 5,000 baht.
As police continue to crack down on such practices, it is imperative that the public is warned. Sasikarn Wattanajan, deputy spokesperson for the Prime Minister's Office, advised avoiding all online gambling promotions and reporting suspicious activity. The aim of the government and police is to protect public interests and limit Russian risks from financial losses and fraud.