Major Crackdown on Online Scam and Gambling Syndicate in Si Sa Ket
A significant police operation has led to the arrest of 14 individuals, including three Taiwanese nationals, in Muang district of Si Sa Ket province. The crackdown targeted an online scam and gambling syndicate that was allegedly operating from two rented houses in a housing estate in tambon Pho.
The operation took place on Wednesday evening, with a combined team of police and local officials carrying out the raid. According to Pol Maj Gen Supachai Sakkarinpanitchakun, the provincial police commander, the arrests included three Taiwanese men and 11 Thai suspects, among whom were four minors aged between 17 and 19.
Targeting Control Centers for Online Gambling
The police operation focused on two rented houses that were reportedly used as control centers for bank accounts and payment gateways linked to online gambling websites. These premises were identified as key locations for the alleged criminal activities.
The three Taiwanese suspects were only identified by their surnames—Chen, Wu, and Jheng. The 11 Thai suspects ranged in age from 17 to 23, with four of them being minors. They are all facing various charges under the Royal Decree on Measures for the Prevention and Suppression of Technology-Related Crimes.
Charges and Legal Violations
Four of the suspects—three Taiwanese nationals and one Thai—were charged with procuring, advertising, or disseminating information to facilitate the sale, rental, or lending of bank accounts, electronic cards, or e-wallets for use in committing technology-related or other criminal offences. This is in violation of Section 10 of the decree.
The remaining suspects were charged with allowing others to use their bank accounts, electronic cards, or mobile phone numbers, knowing or having reasons to believe they would be used for criminal purposes. This falls under Section 9 of the same decree.
Additional legal actions were taken against a 21-year-old suspect for illegal possession of a firearm and carrying it in public without a valid reason. A 19-year-old suspect was also charged with possession of a Category 2 narcotic (ketamine) for personal use. All 10 Thai suspects tested positive for drug use and face further charges related to substance abuse.
Confiscated Evidence and Next Steps
During the raid, law enforcement officers seized a large amount of evidence, including:
- 110 mobile phones
- 90 bank account books
- Multiple SIM cards
- One homemade firearm
- A sachet of ketamine
- Two motorcycles
- Three cars
- A gold necklace
All the suspects have been handed over to the police investigators at Si Sa Ket’s Muang police station for further legal proceedings.