A special operations unit from the Department of Provincial Administration raided a "major gambling den in downtown Korat," arresting 85 gamblers. As a result, the Region 3 Police Commander ordered the transfer of five senior Pho Klang police officers to the Region 3 Operations Center, removing them from their original posts.
On the night of 13 January 2026, Mr. Ronarak Thipsiri, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Provincial Administration, led a special operations unit of over 50 officers to raid a gambling den offering hi-lo and Dragon Tiger games inside a hotel located in Suranari Subdistrict, Mueang Nakhon Ratchasima District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province.
Authorities arrested a total of 85 gamblers, including four dealers—two Cambodian men and two Cambodian women. They seized over 800,000 baht in cash and chips worth 400,000 baht. Financial records indicated the den's daily cash flow averaged 2 million baht, totaling approximately 60 million baht per month.
Subsequently, the provincial administrative officers coordinated with the police to participate in the operation. Pol. Maj. Gen. Narongsak Promtha, Provincial Police Commander of Nakhon Ratchasima, and Pol. Col. Patcharadon Kharin, Chief of Pho Klang Police Station, the jurisdictional authority, led police forces to join the scene, as previously reported.
The latest development, reported in the afternoon of 16 January 2026, stated that following the incident, Pol. Lt. Gen. Prutthipong Prayunsiri, Region 3 Police Commander, issued Order No. 45/2569 assigning five officers from Pho Klang Police Station—Pol. Col. Patcharadon Kharin (Chief), Pol. Lt. Col. Suthep Ramsantia (Deputy Chief of Patrol), Pol. Lt. Col. Prasit Kiama (Deputy Chief of Investigation), Pol. Lt. Col. Pongsak Nantaso (Patrol Inspector), and Pol. Lt. Col. Chaipol Kongkhuntod (Investigation Inspector)—to serve at the Region 3 Operations Center, removing them from their previous posts. Pol. Col. Narong Suwak, Deputy Provincial Police Commander of Nakhon Ratchasima, was appointed acting Chief of Pho Klang Police Station. Additionally, Pol. Lt. Col. Thepthun Khajornkiatcha, Deputy Chief of Investigation 3, Region 3 Police, was appointed acting Deputy Chief of Patrol. Pol. Lt. Col. Wichanont Bophimai, Deputy Chief of Investigation, Nakhon Ratchasima Police, was appointed acting Deputy Chief of Investigation. Pol. Lt. Col. Kanung Chanidthai, Inspector of the Investigation Division, Nakhon Ratchasima Police, was appointed acting Patrol Inspector. Pol. Capt. Chakrapong Sapsungnoen, Inspector of the Investigation Division, Nakhon Ratchasima Police, was appointed acting Investigation Inspector.
Dated 14 January 2026.
Pol. Lt. Gen. Prutthipong Prayunsiri, Region 3 Police Commander, assigned Pol. Maj. Gen. Phairoj Khunmuen, Deputy Region 3 Police Commander, to lead the investigation into the facts of the case.