
BANGKOK — Thai police conducted major raids targeting foreign-operated online gambling networks in Bangkok on Tuesday, successfully dismantling both Taiwanese and Chinese operations.
In the first operation, Thailand’s Cyber Police, led by Police Lieutenant General Trairong Phiwphan, raided four locations in Bangkok, including properties in Ladprao and Huai Khwang districts. The operation targeted a major Taiwanese gambling network with daily transactions of approximately $300,000. Over 20 Taiwanese nationals and their administrators were arrested.
The investigation began after youth complaints about gambling links embedded in cartoon websites. The network operated under the guise of an NFT trading platform but actually ran an illegal gambling website offering slots, fishing games, live casino, sports betting, poker, and other games.

Those arrested were Taiwanese nationals: Mr. Yaoyi (50), Mr. I-Teng (34), and Mr. Chungfeng (23), along with a 21-year-old Thai national named Thanakit, and a 45-year-old Myanmar citizen who handled financial transactions. The suspects denied the allegations, claiming they were only selling digital art.
Police also found 18 Thai administrators recruited from the southern border region, who were held as witnesses. These individuals stated they were hired through Facebook for what they believed was legitimate digital asset trading work at $18 per day. Upon arrival, each worker was made to open a bank account and given a phone. After linking their accounts to the provided phones, they were tasked with daily money transfers. Police investigation later found all accounts were tied to illegal gambling operations.
During searches of the four locations, investigators uncovered substantial evidence linking the suspects to the gambling operation. Police seized 33 mobile phones along with numerous Thai and international bank accounts. A Mercedes Benz vehicle was also confiscated, as well as computer equipment and cryptocurrency seed phrases. The evidence included multiple SIM cards from both Thai and Laotian telecommunications providers, plus physical currency in Thai baht, Laotian kip, and Vietnamese dong.
In a separate operation, Tourist Police arrested three Chinese nationals – Mr. Wenchong (41), Mr. Pengcheng (24), and Mr. Pohong (31) – at a luxury condominium in Huai Khwang. They were allegedly operating “dafabet,” an online gambling platform connected to grey-market Chinese operators in Cambodia. Two of the suspects, Wenchong and Pohong, were already wanted by Chinese authorities.

The Chinese operation managed about 200,000 gambling accounts with daily transactions of approximately $57,000. Police seized computers, phones, OTP tokens, 0.7 grams of crystal methamphetamine, and 50 rounds of 9mm ammunition.
Police Lieutenant General Trairong emphasized that while Thailand welcomes legitimate tourists, authorities will continue to crack down on criminal activities. He referenced Chinese President Xi Jinping’s open-door policy analogy, stating that while Thailand’s tourism sector welcomes good visitors, law enforcement must act as a “screen door” to filter out criminal elements.
All suspects face charges related to operating illegal gambling operations and money laundering, with additional drug and weapons charges for the Chinese suspects.
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