On August 25, the Thailand Cybercrime Suppression Division (TCSD) held a press conference to announce raids in both the Ramman District of Bangkok and Lan Saka City in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, cracking down on a cybercrime gang led by the gambling website "Meeruay 99". The operation was led by Major General Trairong Phiwpaen of the TCSD, with several high-ranking officials attending to report on the case.
The police revealed that the suspects attracted over 60,000 registered users through operating the websites tnt69.com and m.sagame123.com, with a monthly turnover of about 14 million Thai Baht, and annual revenues exceeding 100 million Thai Baht.
Luxury Apartment Hides Gambling Command Center
In a luxury apartment in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, police arrested 24-year-old Suphadet, who was responsible for website fund transfers and backend management. Computers, mobile phones, and 10 bank passbooks were seized at the scene.
Subsequently, police raided a mansion in the Ramman District of Bangkok, arresting 22-year-old Natthaphat and 25-year-old Ammarin. Inside the house, police found 600,000 Thai Baht in cash, gold bars, luxury goods, Bearbrick collectible toys, and ATM machines, with a total value exceeding 1.5 million Thai Baht.
The young suspects, all in their early twenties, were living a life of luxury beyond their years, described by the police as "extravagantly beyond their age."
From Online Advertising to Word of Mouth
The police analyzed that the gang's recruitment methods differed from the past. Due to the Thai government's recent crackdown on telephone scams and online advertising, the suspects began relying on private recommendations and community fission to attract players. The majority of gamblers were local Thais, with all transactions completed through domestic Thai bank accounts, increasing the difficulty of tracking.
Multiple Charges Added, Investigation Continues to Expand
All eight suspects have admitted to their involvement, and the police have formally charged them with "conspiracy to operate illegal online gambling and money laundering" among other charges, and have frozen the assets involved. The TCSD stated that the investigation is still ongoing, aiming to trace the masterminds and hidden financial chains.
Major General Trairong emphasized: "Online gambling has become a quick path to wealth for a new generation of criminals, but it is also eroding society and the youth. The police will continue to investigate until the entire criminal network is destroyed."
This case highlights the trend of younger, more covert online gambling in Thailand, and serves as a societal warning: behind high profits lie the dual traps of law and risk.
