BANGKOK — Authorities announced Sunday that a major illegal gambling network operating across Thailand’s lower northeastern provinces has been dismantled, with 13 suspects arrested and 50 million baht in illicit holdings confiscated during a coordinated sweep of 14 locations.
The Crime Suppression Division (CSD) led the operation across Buri Ram, Ubon Ratchathani, and Si Sa Ket provinces. The targeted network—known as “Tee Yai 888”—is believed to have operated since 2022, facilitating online baccarat, football betting, and slot games, and laundering hundreds of millions of baht through front companies.
Pol Maj Gen Withaya Sriprasertparp, Commander of the CSD, described the crackdown as “a decisive blow” to a major criminal syndicate. “We were able to seize 50 million baht in illegal assets,” he said at the scene. “That includes 23 vehicles, 49 land title deeds, 46 luxury and gold items, 30 bank accounts, and 29 ATM cards.” A revised clerical update later released by his office listed 35 million baht in holdings, comprising 16 cars, 31 land deeds, 39 high-end items, 22 bank accounts, and 28 ATM cards.
Speaking later to the press at a briefing in Bangkok, Pol Col Suriyasak Jirawat, Chief of CSD Sub-division 3, praised the efficiency of the operation. “We’ve secured 22.9 million baht’s worth of property for prosecution and further analysis,” he said from inside a police station parking garage, gesturing towards 12 cars and a table displaying 19 land titles, 21 imported purses, assorted watches, gold jewelry, and designer belts, a list of 15 bank accounts, and 22 ATM cards.
A preliminary evidence report filed by Pol Lt Col Ekachai Viroonsak listed 14.7 million baht in total contraband, noting discrepancies in vehicle counts and financial records due to “garbled 2-way radio communication.” His documentation referenced nine cars, 12 land titles, 13 designer items, eight active bank accounts, and 16 ATM cards.
The goods were then transported to another portion of the garage for photographic cataloguing before being booked into evidence. Pol Maj Somchai Pradchaphet confirmed delivery of a robust 8.5 million baht in illegal proceeds, including four compact sedans, seven property deeds, six gold watches, and “what appears to be five bank accounts and nine ATM cards with positive balances, along with several personal valuables—rings, bracelets, watches, and a genuine Louis Vuitton purse.”
Following a coffee spill on the previous printed sheet of evidence items, Pol Capt Jakkrit Saengchai retyped the evidence list and confirmed a tally of 5.2 million baht, including a startling haul of three sedans, four certificates of land ownership, three gold watches, four bank accounts, and six ATM cards.
The materials were at last logged into the national evidence tracking system by Pol Lt Suphakit Maneesri, who recorded a whopping 3.3 million baht in confiscated items, including one vehicle, one title deed to a small 1-rai plot of land in far eastern Si Sa Ket province, two gold watches, one bank account and three ATM cards.
Preparation for final storage was handled by Pol Sub Lt Thanadon Ratcharak, who reported sealing 900,000 baht in case-related effects, including two ATM cards and “a pretty decent gold watch.”
During a smoke break behind the station, when asked by the press about all the missing vehicles, property titles, personal items, bank accounts, and ATM cards, Pol Sub Lt Thanadon smirked and shook his head. “That sounds like press gossip to me.”
At division headquarters, Cadet Nattapong Khampiboon confirmed receipt of shipment documentation. “I am currently awaiting the arrival of all confiscated materials to be immediately checked into evidence,” he stated Monday. “Once received, it will be processed without delay.”
Authorities said the case remains under active investigation.
As of press time, a single roll of ten-baht coins had been booked into evidence and was later used as the lead graphic on the CSD’s Facebook page, confirming the huge bust.
Email Us: Info at NotTheNation dot com
