Nakhon Nayok police teamed up with security forces to plan sending an undercover agent posing as a gambler before raiding a pok deng card gambling den in a field area of Ongkharak. They arrested 38 suspects along with more than 60,000 baht in cash. The dealer was only 23 years old, and a 28-year-old woman admitted to owning the house where the gambling took place.
On 13 January 2026 at about 16:00, Pol. Col. Theeraphat Bundittohiranchot, chief of the investigation division of Nakhon Nayok Provincial Police, led a team of investigators from Nakhon Nayok Provincial Police together with officers from the Internal Security Operations Command and Ongkharak Police Station to arrest illegal gamblers at an unnumbered house in Village 2, Sai Mun Subdistrict, Ongkharak District, Nakhon Nayok Province. This followed a tip from an informant about a group gathering to gamble causing disturbances in the area. The plan involved undercover infiltration to make the arrest.
In this operation, officers used tactics by having a police officer disguise as a gambler and infiltrate the fish pond area, the crime scene. After confirming the gambling was indeed taking place, the officer signaled the arrest team waiting nearby to move in. This caused the large group of gamblers to panic and try to flee, but police managed to surround and detain all 38 individuals.
At the scene, officers identified key individuals including Mr. Suphanat (surname withheld), 23, from Surat Thani Province, who confessed to being the dealer managing bets. Also, Ms. Pranee (surname withheld), 28, from Nakhon Nayok Province, admitted to owning the house where the gambling occurred and organizing the gambling activity. Authorities seized 24 items including 61,000 baht in cash, three decks of plastic playing cards, playing mats, chips representing cash, number cards, a stopwatch, and additional equipment such as a long table and 24 chairs. All 38 suspects confessed and were prosecuted.
Among the 38 suspects, their hometowns included various provinces such as Saraburi, Pathum Thani, Surat Thani, Nakhon Nayok, and also included individuals of Laotian nationality. All face charges of "conspiring to gamble illegally (pok deng card game) for stakes without permission."
Initially, all suspects confessed to the charges. Authorities detained them along with the seized items and transferred them to the Ongkharak Police Station for legal proceedings. Officials stated this arrest aligns with strict policies to crackdown on vice and illegal activities in the area.