ACTING Prime Minister/Interior Minister Phumtham Wechayachai personally led a raid on a large gambling den in Don Mueang area that has a monthly turnover of 300 to 400 million baht with 200 punters rounded up, Amarin TV said this morning (Aug. 28)..
This special operation, named Singh Prab Yot, was mounted by the Interior Ministry’s Department of Provincial Administration with officials encircling the den, located within buildings adjacent to an artificial turf football field, and entering through all gates with cutting equipment used to break open one of them.
Within were five fully-integrated gambling rooms and a food and beverage shop, similar to a mini-mart.
Found at this illegal gambling complex, which had previously been raided numerous times by police, military and officials of this department, were approximately 1 million baht in cash, including banknotes and coins, seventeen bank passbooks all belonging to a single woman, containing funds ranging from hundreds of thousands to tens of millions of baht. Additionally, bank slips for depositing nearly 4 million baht in a single day were also found.
Phumtham, who inspected the raided gambling den, said its daily turnover was 5 to 10 million baht, adding up to monthly turnover of 300 to 400 million baht. The VIP room alone had 3 to 4 million baht turnover each hour.
Investigators have identified the owner and tenant of the premises and police are checking whether they are related. Regarding the woman named in the bank passbooks it is still unknown how she is linked to the owner and tenant.
Initially police will gather evidence to pursue legal action against the suspects but whether money laundering charges too will be filed against them depends on the evidence found.
It is still being decided whether to suspend use of this complex because over 20 arrests have been made by various agencies.
Questioned whether gamblers are flocking to various illegal dens within Thailand as the tension along the Thai-Cambodian border hindered crossing over to gamble at Cambodian border city Poipet, Phumtham said the authorities do not want to link these two issues but every punter knows where gambling venues are located.
CAPTION:
Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai at the large gambling den raided overnight. Photos: Amarin TV
Also read:
Anti-casino protest starting near Govt House
Casino bill indefinitely put off
Paetongtarn not visiting Constitutional Court on Judgment Day
Parallel lawsuit lodged in pursuit of Paetongtarn’s ouster by Supreme Court
Thai-Khmer conflict could be resolved by anyone other than Paetongtarn: Ex-NSC Chief
Offered payoffs feared to be the only way to save Paetongtarn
Attorney-General weighing whether to send Thaksin’s lese majeste case to Appellate Court
Paetongtarn urged to keep distance from dad to make decision on her own
Mum shocked at hearing son’s ankle severed in mine blast
Sheffield Wednesday knock out Leeds with shoot-out win
