Thailand's Department of Special Investigation (DSI) and the Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) recently collaborated in a joint operation in Chiang Mai, successfully dismantling a large criminal network that used illegal English Premier League streaming services linked to online gambling platforms. During the operation, police seized assets worth millions of Thai baht and exposed the gang's long-term involvement in infringement and money laundering activities since 2020.
It is reported that the gang illegally broadcasted Premier League matches through at least nine unauthorized websites, severely infringing the exclusive rights held by TrueVisions and Jasmine International. These websites not only provided pirated content but also directed users to various offshore-operated gambling platforms, including football betting, lotteries, baccarat, and slot machines.
The investigation revealed that the gang used over 150 fake bank accounts for financial transactions, initially estimating the copyright loss to TrueVisions to exceed 2 billion Thai baht (approximately 61 million USD), and generating an illegal cash flow of 240 million Thai baht (about 7 million USD) from gambling-related activities. The seized assets included eight bank accounts, a property, a pickup truck, and two motorcycles, one of which was a Harley-Davidson.
The police have currently identified four main types of suspects involved: account holders including low-income individuals or foreigners, website developers and administrators, financial handlers, and behind-the-scenes financial supporters. Some suspects have been charged with money laundering, copyright infringement, and illegal gambling, while others who have fled abroad are still under investigation.
