Cyber police launched an operation to dismantle two major online gambling networks, "UFAC4r" and "betflix-bet5," offering various types of betting. They found combined transaction volumes exceeding 2.5 billion baht per year. The networks cleverly collected money from mule accounts into a Payment Gateway system, disguising financial trails before forwarding funds to major investors.
At 12:00 on 26 May 2026, at the Technology Crime Suppression Division Headquarters (TCSD) in Muang Thong Thani, Pak Kret District, Nonthaburi Province, Pol. Maj. Gen. Chatpandakan Klayklung, Deputy Commander of TCSD, Pol. Maj. Gen. Niwet Arpawsin, Deputy Commander of TCSD, Pol. Maj. Gen. Siriwat Deepho, Commander of TCSD Division 1, Pol. Maj. Gen. Sila Kanjanarak, Commander of TCSD Division 5, Pol. Col. Rojsak Naiphongsri, Superintendent of Investigation Division 2, TCSD 1, and Pol. Col. Teera Chuesuwan, Superintendent of Investigation Division 1, TCSD 5, jointly announced the crackdown on two major online gambling networks with combined annual turnovers exceeding 2.5 billion baht.
Pol. Maj. Gen. Chatpandakan stated that the arrest of the first network stemmed from investigations by Investigation Division 2, TCSD 1, which found the website "UFAC4r" illicitly operating online gambling services such as lottery, slots, international football betting, baccarat, and various other games. The site had over 20,000 members and had been operating for more than two years. This network functioned as a criminal organization with different groups responsible for website development, management, and finance.
Pol. Maj. Gen. Siriwat added that this network employed a novel money laundering method by operating an online platform registered as multiple legal entities. These companies opened bank accounts used to launder money and conceal financial transactions related to the online gambling operations.
Members paid money to these companies via a Payment Gateway system, an intermediary online payment platform connecting customers, merchants, and banks, making the operation appear like a legitimate business. This allowed acceptance of payments via credit/debit cards, PromptPay (Thai QR code), and digital wallets (E-wallets), similar to payments for utilities, phone bills, and other daily services.
The funds were then transferred to mule accounts, where individuals withdrew large sums of cash from banks. The cash was subsequently handed over to major investors or beneficiaries. Financial evidence showed a turnover of more than 200 million baht monthly, or over 2.4 billion baht annually. Within two months, 76 withdrawals totaling 81 million baht were made, each worth several million baht. Investigators gathered evidence and obtained arrest warrants for nine individuals involved and search warrants for two locations.
Later, Pol. Col. Rojsak Naiphongsri led investigators to execute search warrants. The first search, under Criminal Court warrant 305/2569, targeted a large Payment Gateway company in an office building on Viphavadi Rangsit Road, Chatuchak District, Bangkok. Authorities seized key evidence including five laptops, nine bank passbooks, two mobile phones, various documents, and electronic devices related to the crime.
The second search was conducted at a commercial building in Arun Amarin area, Bangkok Noi District, Bangkok, where Vietnamese national Mr. Hong Tam Nguyen, 34, was arrested. He managed the online gambling system, withdrew cash from bank accounts, and was found with 287,000 baht in cash, three laptops, and two bank passbooks. During initial interrogation, he confessed.
Pol. Maj. Gen. Siriwat further stated that after searching the Payment Gateway company, three executives—who are suspects under arrest warrants—turned themselves in to investigators. They initially denied all charges, claiming no involvement and said they would present their defense in court later.
Investigations also revealed that the group withdrawing money for this gambling network included both Chinese and Thai individuals responsible for cash withdrawals, fund collection, bookkeeping, and transferring money to various recipients through multiple channels. Regarding the Payment Gateway, police have filed about 70 to 80 related bank account complaints, with numerous summonses issued. Authorities continue to investigate and identify other suspects.
All suspects face charges of "collaborating to facilitate, lure, advertise, or directly or indirectly invite others to gamble via electronic media without official permission," and "conspiring with two or more persons to commit money laundering," with actual money laundering committed due to this conspiracy.
Pol. Maj. Gen. Sila reported that the second network, "betflix-bet5," was uncovered by Pol. Col. Teera Chuesuwan and his team from Investigation Division 1, TCSD 5. This network had an annual turnover exceeding 100 million baht, illicitly offering football betting, slots, baccarat, fish shooting games, slot games, lottery, and other gambling games. They used corporate bank accounts without actual business operations to hold funds before transferring to beneficiary accounts, with withdrawals of several hundred thousand baht at a time.
Investigators collected evidence and obtained arrest warrants for nine individuals involved in managing finances, withdrawing money, mule accounts, and inactive corporate accounts. They also secured search warrants for two locations in Tak Province.
The first search targeted a house in Buakun Alley, Mae Sot Subdistrict, Mae Sot District, Tak Province, where Mr. Theerapun Praditratana, 34, responsible for cash withdrawals and receiving gambling proceeds, was arrested. Authorities seized one car, over one million baht in cash, gold bars and jewelry totaling 40 baht weight, one mobile phone, one bank passbook, and one cash card.
The second search targeted a house on Inkiri Road, Mae Sot Subdistrict, Mae Sot District, Tak Province, where Mr. Theerapong Wongmaneewan, 32, who handled fund holding, transfers, and withdrawals, and Ms. Thipapa Konjanboon, 58, who managed mule accounts, were arrested. Seized items included three mobile phones, three bank passbooks, one laptop, and one portable hard disk.
They face charges of "collaborating to facilitate, lure, advertise, or directly or indirectly invite others to gamble via electronic media without official permission," and "conspiring with two or more persons to commit money laundering," with money laundering committed as a result of this conspiracy.