Cyber police raided and arrested a female admin of the online gambling network “Asiaz168” that had secretly established a base on a high mountain in Chiang Rai province. The network has been operating for over three years, with an average monthly turnover exceeding 20 million baht, or more than 240 million baht annually.
On 18 June 2026, Pol. Lt. Gen. Suraphol Prembut, Commander of the Cyber Crime Bureau, together with Pol. Lt. Gen. Naradet Thiprak, Commander assigned to the Royal Thai Police Office and Cyber Crime Bureau, and Pol. Maj. Gen. Krittach Bumrungrattanayot, Commander of Division 4, Cyber Crime Bureau, ordered Pol. Col. Phutthiphat Phanomchaijirakul, Superintendent of Division 4, Cyber Crime Bureau, along with Pol. Lt. Col. Chaiphat Chuesai, Deputy Superintendent of Division 4, and Pol. Lt. Col. Anat Khemthong, Investigation Officer of Division 4, to lead the operation.
They conducted a search under the Chiang Rai Provincial Court warrant No. Kor.41/2569 at a house in Village 10, Mae Yao Subdistrict, Mueang District, Chiang Rai. They arrested Ms. Saowanee Ajorn, 28, the homeowner, and seized evidence including one laptop, one mobile phone, and internet signal transmission devices.
Following government policy and orders from Police General Kittirat Punpetch, Commissioner-General of the Royal Thai Police, the Cyber Crime Bureau and related agencies have been instructed to intensify crackdowns on online gambling networks, especially those offering football betting, which continue to operate defiantly in violation of the law. They are also tasked with monitoring and preventing youth involvement in online gambling during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, held from 11 June to 19 July 2026.
Investigators from Division 4, Cyber Crime Bureau, identified the website “Asiaz168” with over 40,000 members, operating for more than three years, generating an average turnover exceeding 20 million baht monthly, or over 240 million baht annually. The site illicitly offered various online gambling services including international football betting, lottery, slots, baccarat, dragon tiger, hi-lo, pok deng, and several other games.
The gambling site used an automated bank transfer system for deposits and allowed direct withdrawal requests via the website. Website admins provided support and handled issues such as registration, financial transactions, and promotional activities to encourage users to engage in online gambling.
Investigation revealed that the gambling network covertly operated a base disguised within an ethnic hill tribe community on a high mountain in Mueang Chiang Rai District to evade arrest. Authorities gathered evidence and obtained a search warrant to raid the residence and arrest the suspect. They also froze four bank accounts linked to deposit and transfer transactions related to the gambling website, including personal and corporate accounts.
During interrogation, Ms. Saowanee admitted she was hired to serve as a marketing admin, responsible for running advertising campaigns and recruiting customers for the gambling website for over two years, receiving a monthly salary of 34,000 baht.
Police charged her with "conspiring to employ schemes and advertising or directly or indirectly inviting others to participate in electronic gambling without authorization from officials," and took her into custody for further legal action.