Bangkok —
On July 2nd, 2024, the Thai Department of Provincial Administration (DOPA) along with relevant agencies launched a raid operation at a gambling den located in the parking lot of the well-known Pata shopping mall in Pinklao, Bangkok.
Locals had filed complaints to officials about the establishment of a gambling den at the Pata shopping mall. According to DOPA, the den operated under the guise of a snooker club, catering to regular customers.
The officials successfully infiltrated the gambling den, which exclusively admitted known gamblers. Inside, they discovered numerous gambling machines for both on-site and online gambling.
During the raid, over 30 individuals, including gamblers and gambling den employees, were apprehended. The investigation is ongoing to trace the financial routes of the online gambling operations.
The police also uncovered that the gambling den had secret emergency exits to facilitate the escape of gamblers during police raids. Each machine and computer had an alert button to warn other gamblers in case of a raid, triggering a complete shutdown of the online gambling system.
The DOPA, in coordination with Bang Yi Khan police officers, confiscated more than 20 computers, two gambling machines, and other gambling-related properties. The apprehended individuals were then taken to the Bang Yi Khan police station for further legal proceedings.
Additionally, the DOPA found a government official’s card reportedly belonging to a police officer at Bang Yi Khan police station. Relevant agencies are investigating to determine whether the individual was involved in the gambling operations.
This operation highlights the ongoing efforts of Thai authorities to crack down on illegal gambling activities and ensure legal accountability.
This article originally appeared on our sister website The Pattaya News.
