Thailand has cracked down on an illegal gambling operation, seizing hundreds of thousands of dollars and arresting the operation’s treasurer. The scheme in question had a hub in Khlong Luang and operated online.
Authorities Seized Thousands of Dollars in Cash and Assets
Thai authorities said that they raided the illegal website’s hub, a residential property in Khlong Luang, and arrested a 30-year-old man who is believed to have been responsible for handling the operation’s money. Speaking of money, officials seized THB 28 million (roughly $865,000) in cash and assets.
The website in question was Auto888vip.com, which allegedly handled THB 20 million ($618,000) a month. Thai authorities further understood that the site had an average of 3,000 users a month.
Reports say that the authorities believe that the raided property had served as the scheme’s financial center. In addition to cash, the police seized various luxury items, such as expensive watches and cars.
In the meantime, officials froze the house, which implies that the illegal scheme reinvested its winnings in real estate.
To make matters worse, authorities believe that there are more people involved. As a result, the investigation into the illegal website will continue.
Thai Police Continue to Crack Down on Illegal Gambling
This raid follows another similar operation that took place in June and led to the crackdown of an illegal gambling hub located inside a warehouse in Bang Yai district, Nonthaburi.
Unlike Auto888vip, which operated online, that property was land-based and operated as a fully-fledged casino. Officials reported that it offered a variety of games of chance and gambling machines, and even had air conditioning.
The operation led to the arrests of 54 people, including 46 locals and 8 foreigners.
In other news, a 35-year-old Thai woman was recently accused of seducing at least nine Buddhist monks and then extorting them for gambling money. The report said that she filmed the sexual activities and used them to blackmail the monks.
According to a report by the Thai Royal Police, the woman spent a staggering $11.9 million on gambling.