The police in Phutthamonthon, Thailand, held a press conference announcing the successful dismantling of a large online gambling syndicate based in the Bang Khan district of Phutthamonthon. The syndicate operated two gambling websites with a total case amount exceeding 300 million Thai Baht. A large amount of evidence was seized at the scene, including luxury cars and gambling equipment.
Pol. Maj. Gen. Phongsaphan Wongmanithet, the Chief of Phutthamonthon Police Station, along with Deputy Chief Pol. Col. Phongsawat Champacheu, Phutthamonthon City Police Station Chief Pol. Col. Achirayawat Thawon Charoenwat, and several investigators attended the briefing to detail the operation.
According to the police report, the operation sealed two gambling websites, "pananthai.com" and "play.surinam888.com," arresting nine website administrators and staff. A large amount of gambling-related equipment and items were seized, including mobile phones, ATM cards, four motorcycles, and a Ford Ranger pickup truck.
The arrest operation was initiated following reports from residents of frequent suspicious vehicle activity in and out of a house in Village 8, Bang Khan district. After secret surveillance and obtaining a court search warrant, the police conducted a raid on the house, finding seven people operating the gambling websites and taking football betting wagers from customers.
The seven arrested individuals were:
31-year-old Mr. Wuttharat
30-year-old Mr. Worachatorn Kaewmak
28-year-old Mr. Charoen
25-year-old Mr. Naraphan
33-year-old Mr. Phuchong
22-year-old Mr. Thanakorn
26-year-old Ms. Nathamon
Seized items at the scene included: 4 desktop computers, 4 laptops, 5 wireless routers, 23 mobile phones, 17 bank passbooks, 12 ATM cards, and promotional items with the "321 bet" logo: 301 glass cups, 33 hats, 11 travel bags, 51 blankets, 103 T-shirts, as well as 4 motorcycles and a gray Ford Ranger pickup truck. All evidence has been transferred to Phutthamonthon City Police Station for further processing.
After initial interrogation, the suspects claimed they were merely employees, with the masterminds being 30-year-old Mr. Krakat and 24-year-old Ms. Sasiporn. Both fled in a red Ford Mustang sports car just before the police raid. The police then launched a manhunt, tracking the suspects to 10 possible hideouts in Phutthamonthon, Chonburi, and Bangkok, eventually arresting the mastermind Mr. Krakat Fobsuk and his associate, 32-year-old Mr. Wilot, in a residence in Chonburi. A 9mm Beretta pistol and 40 bullets were seized from Mr. Wilot. Ms. Sasiporn was also captured nearby. Meanwhile, the red Ford Mustang used for their escape was seized in Bangkok.
Maj. Gen. Phongsaphan emphasized at the press conference that Krakat and Sasiporn have been confirmed as the masterminds behind the gambling websites, but did not rule out the possibility that this syndicate is part of a larger criminal network. The police will continue to investigate other involved parties and potential protectors. He stressed that regardless of the suspects' backgrounds, the police will rigorously enforce the law and refrained from disclosing more details to avoid alerting other suspects.
Sources informed the media that this gambling platform is one of the largest illegal betting websites in Thailand, with financial transactions exceeding 300 million Thai Baht. The mastermind Krakat is suspected to have close ties with a high-ranking individual with significant political or business influence, making the case complex. The police have elevated the investigation level.
