The Director-General of the Department of Provincial Administration ordered a special task force to raid an abandoned hotel in the Phra Samut Chedi area, arresting nearly fifty gambling operators and players, and was shocked to find war weapons used to control the gambling den.
On 21 May 2026, Mr. Naruja Kosasivilai, Director-General of the Department of Provincial Administration, instructed Mr. Ronarak Tipsiri, Deputy Director-General, along with Police Lieutenant Singhkam Khamyod, Director of the Investigation and Legal Affairs Bureau, and Mr. Ruanglak Ruangyangmee, Director of the Volunteer Defense Corps Bureau, to lead over 70 administrative officers and Volunteer Defense Corps members to surround and search the target area on the 4th floor of the Chalermwong Hotel, Soi Suksawat 80, Phra Samut Chedi District, Samut Prakan Province, after intelligence revealed it had been converted into a large illegal rooftop gambling den openly defying the law.
During the raid, officials found gamblers intensely engaged in betting at the rooftop den. They arrested a total of 55 suspects, including 6 operators and 49 gamblers (30 Thai men, 16 Thai women, and 3 foreign workers). Confiscated items included large gambling tables separated for separate games—one for card games and another for hi-lo—sharing the same table, fully equipped with complete gambling paraphernalia.
Additionally, authorities seized cash and gambling chips totaling more than 5 million baht. Alarmingly, they also found one war weapon, one handgun, and several rounds of ammunition hidden inside the den, intended for security protection.
Reports indicate the location is an old hotel that has ceased operations, owned by Mr. Pratya Chalermwong, known as “Sia Boy,” former deputy mayor of Lat Luang Municipality, Phra Pradaeng District. Prior undercover investigations found "Sia Boy" personally managing the den, acting as both the head and organizer of the gambling activities.
Preliminary financial investigations revealed that bank accounts linked to Sia Boy show transaction volumes exceeding 43 million baht. Moreover, this rooftop gambling den is popular among high-stakes gamblers, particularly certain foreign workers and foreign capital groups (suspected to be Chinese), who commonly place bets ranging from 100,000 baht up to one million baht per game round.
After securing the scene, the special task force detained all suspects and seized evidence for documentation at the Phra Samut Chedi District Office. Charges were filed for illegal gambling operations and participation, illegal possession of firearms and ammunition without authorization. The suspects were then handed over to investigators at Phra Samut Chedi Police Station for legal proceedings and further financial investigation.