Cyber police raided and dismantled two major online gambling websites in Songkhla district, with over 50,000 members and an annual turnover exceeding 480 million baht. They seized assets worth more than 190 million baht and identified over 13 network affiliates involved, arresting 3 suspects while 9 others remain at large.
At 10:00 a.m. on 26 July 2024 at the Technology Crime Suppression Division headquarters (TCSD), Pol. Lt. Gen. Worawat Watnakhornbucha, Commander of TCSD, Pol. Maj. Gen. Attasit Sutsanguan, Deputy Commander, Pol. Maj. Gen. Niwet Arpawsin, Deputy Commander, and Pol. Col. Surapong Thaiprasert, Deputy Commander of TCSD 2, jointly announced the results of Operation “BUTCHER” which targeted two major online gambling networks, kingpigs1.com and duckystars.com, operating in Hat Yai district, Songkhla province and Bangkok. The sites had over 50,000 members and assets worth more than 190 million baht were seized, with an annual turnover exceeding 480 million baht.
Pol. Lt. Gen. Worawat stated that following policies from Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, Digital Economy and Society Minister Prasert Chandraruangthong, and Police Chief Pol. Gen. Torsak Sukwimol, the TCSD intensified efforts to suppress online crimes, particularly investigating and arresting those involved in illegal online gambling. The TCSD coordinated with the Anti-Online Crime Center (AOC 1441) to trace and identify two gambling websites: kingpigs1.com and duckystars.com.
Subsequently, Pol. Col. Kunaprayot Areeratnatthorn, Chief of Intelligence Analysis Division, TCSD 2, led a team to collect evidence in Hat Yai district, Songkhla and Bangkok. They identified suspects involved in the offenses and obtained court approval to issue arrest warrants for 13 individuals connected to both websites. These included 3 beneficiaries, 1 manager, and 9 employees such as cash handlers and proxy account operators. Search warrants were executed at four locations as follows.
At the first location, a house on Thepha Road, Boyang Subdistrict, Mueang Songkhla District, two suspects—a 40-year-old man named Mr. A (alias) and his 40-year-old wife Ms. B (alias), both beneficiaries—were arrested. Authorities seized assets including luxury cars, watches, 23 land deeds, one Nor Sor 3 land certificate, two mortgage contracts valued around 150 million baht, one desktop computer, one laptop, and four mobile phones.
The second location was another house in Boyang Subdistrict, Mueang Songkhla District, also belonging to Mr. A and Ms. B. No illegal items or valuable assets belonging to the suspects were found during the search.
At the third location, a house in Patanarumjai Alley, Nam Noi Subdistrict, Hat Yai District, Songkhla, authorities arrested Mr. Pat (alias), 26, who served as manager. They seized five bank passbooks, two ATM cards, two laptops, two mobile phones, 3 million baht in cash, and two land deeds.
The fourth location was a condominium in Ratchathewi Subdistrict, Phaya Thai District, Bangkok, where Mr. K (alias), 43, a beneficiary, was arrested. Authorities seized luxury cars, gold necklaces, a land deed with structures valued at 20 million baht, nine ATM cards, 19 bank passbooks, four mobile phones, two tablets, and two laptops.
Pol. Lt. Gen. Worawat added that the raids at these four locations resulted in the arrest of three beneficiaries and one manager, while the remaining nine suspects are still being pursued. Officials confiscated evidence and assets related to the crimes, including cash, cars, land deeds, and valuables valued at over 190 million baht. The suspects face charges of "collaborating to organize unauthorized electronic gambling for monetary gain" and "conspiring with two or more persons to commit money laundering," with actual money laundering committed as a result of this conspiracy.
Pol. Col. Surapong added that the two gambling networks used cartoon profile images on their websites to attract youth gamblers. In cases where young gamblers lacked bank accounts, they were persuaded to register the websites with their parents' bank accounts or credit cards. The administrators deceived them to obtain passwords to siphon money from these accounts. When youth gamblers lacked access to bank accounts or credit cards of their guardians, they were coerced into sending obscene images or deceived into opening proxy accounts and ghost SIM cards, with the false promise of receiving gambling winnings as compensation. Authorities urged parents to closely monitor their children's behavior to prevent them from falling victim.