In Pattaya, Thailand, what seemed like a typical "neighborhood dispute" led the police to unexpectedly bust a high-stakes international poker gambling den.
The incident occurred on August 26. The immigration police and tourist police of Chonburi Province received complaints from residents about foreign tenants in a villa parking disorderly and dumping trash, which not only blocked the community roads but also severely affected the environment. The police then launched a raid and unexpectedly uncovered a gambling ring composed of Chinese and Korean members, involving millions.
On the day of the operation, when the police stormed the villa, the 9 foreign nationals inside panicked and scattered, but were quickly subdued. The detainees included 5 Chinese men, 3 Korean men, and 1 Korean woman.
The scene inside the villa was akin to an "underground casino": several poker tables, piles of chips, hundreds of thousands in cash, playing cards, and a cash counting machine were all present. According to the inventory, the total value of the gambling funds on site was close to 1 million Thai Baht.
After interrogation, three masterminds confessed on the spot: a 35-year-old Chinese man named Tang, a 35-year-old Korean man named Lee, and a 31-year-old Korean man named Kim. The police stated that they would face charges of "conspiring to operate an illegal gambling establishment," with Tang also facing additional charges due to an expired visa. The other six individuals were charged with "participating in illegal gambling" and have been transferred to judicial proceedings.
It is noteworthy that although the Ministry of Interior of Thailand had proposed the possibility of "decriminalizing poker" in July, under current law, poker gambling remains illegal.
This case is a poignant reminder: what started merely as complaints about "disorderly parking and littering" eventually led to the exposure of a million-dollar gambling operation, making it a case of "the strongest neighbor report."
Pattaya neighborhood dispute leads to million-dollar betting game
Comments0
Things were fine when I came, but now I can't go back.
This parking is really expensive.
deserve it
Their own low quality has harmed themselves.
Wherever I go, everywhere is a highlight.
Will being low-key kill you?
It seems that there are more small grey-market companies in Thailand than expected, which explains why there are so many Chinese people here.
Now the Thai people are comparable to the Chaoyang masses.
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