Cyber police dismantled a major Hanoi lottery network in Prachuap Khiri Khan province that accepted bets through LINE groups. They arrested the group admin along with partners and bookmakers. The operation had been ongoing for over three years, with an average annual turnover exceeding 180 million baht.
On 10 Sep, Pol. Lt. Gen. Worawat Watthanakornbucha, Commissioner of the Cyber Crime Division, ordered Pol. Maj. Gen. Nipon Boonkerd, Commander of Cyber Crime Division 2, Pol. Col. Jakrit Srirojnakul, Chief of Investigation Division 2, Pol. Lt. Col. Ekapon Khunyapong, Deputy Chief of Investigation Division 2, and Pol. Lt. Col. Kraiphon Saengdug, Deputy Chief of Investigation Division 2, to lead a raid on a major online lottery network. They searched three locations: two in Prachuap Khiri Khan province and one in Bangkok.
At the first location, under Prachuap Khiri Khan Provincial Court warrant no. 394/2567, they searched house no. 176/20, Prachuap Khiri Khan subdistrict, Mueang district, and arrested Mr. Polpisit Patcharatanadit, 35, a lottery bookmaker, wanted under Criminal Court warrant no. 4289/2567 dated 3 Sep 2024. At the second location, under warrant no. 395/2567, they searched house no. 1/16 Maharaj Road, Prachuap Khiri Khan subdistrict, Mueang district, and arrested Ms. Lalita Thanabart, 30, the group admin, wanted under Criminal Court warrant no. 4283/2567 dated 3 Sep 2024.
At the third location, under Criminal Court warrant no. 874/2567, they searched house no. 8/151, Laddarom Watcharaphon-Rattanakosin Village, Watcharaphon Road, Khlong Thanon subdistrict, Sai Mai district, Bangkok, and arrested Mrs. Wiphawee Prateepklang Na Thalang, 53, homeowner and lottery bookmaker, wanted under Criminal Court warrant no. 4284/2567 dated 3 Sep 2024. They also apprehended Mr. Bundit, 39, who operated a mule bank account, wanted under warrant no. 4280/2567, in Mueang district, Prachuap Khiri Khan province.
Pol. Lt. Gen. Worawat stated that following government policy to intensify efforts against all forms of cybercrime, especially online gambling, the investigation team from Division 2 of the Cyber Crime Bureau discovered an online lottery network called "Pao Pao Shop." The network operated online foreign lottery gambling via a LINE Official Account named @168dudtj, allowing customers to bet on various lotteries such as Hanoi, Thai, and Lao lotteries. The network created 10 LINE groups, each with about 100 customers. Most customers played the Hanoi lottery, which draws three times daily at 17:15, 18:15, and 19:00. Winning bets paid 90 to 100 baht per 1 baht wagered. Mr. Polpisit and Mrs. Wiphawee jointly ran the major online lottery business in Prachuap Khiri Khan for over three years, with an average annual turnover exceeding 180 million baht.
Authorities gathered evidence and obtained six arrest warrants for those involved in this gambling network, arresting four suspects so far and pursuing two others. The operation seized assets related to the crime, including a Mercedes-Benz, a Toyota Alphard, gold jewelry, land deeds, branded watches, designer bags, computers, laptops, mobile phones, bankbooks, and other valuables, totaling over 20 million baht.
Charges have been filed against the suspects for "collaborating to conduct unauthorized online gambling and conspiring with two or more persons to commit money laundering." They were taken into custody along with the seized assets and handed over to the Investigation Division 2 of the Cyber Crime Bureau for prosecution.