Thai investigators have raided 2 illegal gambling dens in Krabi, with 65 people arrested in the crackdown.
According to Arsit Sampantharat, chief of the Department of Provincial Administration, a special operations team carried out the raids following complaints that illegal gambling dens were operating in the City and Plai Phraya districts of Krabi.
An initial inspection was carried out in both areas in late August, based on intelligence gathered on social media that a gambling den was operating in a palm plantation in Plai Phraya. It’s understood that following the initial inspection, the den was moved the day next day.
Meanwhile, in the City district, another 2 gambling dens continued to operate openly. During the raids, a total of 65 arrests were made, including both gamblers and dealers. Officers also seized more than 500,000 baht in cash. It’s understood daily transactions at the gambling dens exceeded 1 million baht.
Arsit says all 65 suspects have been handed over to Krabi Police for legal processing.
Meanwhile, local residents claim both gambling dens were controlled by a prominent former politician who had a monopoly on gambling activities in the province and blocked all competing activity.
The den in the Plai Phraya palm plantation challenged this monopoly, enticing customers with offers of 3 meals a day and transport from neighbouring provinces.
This resulted in friction between both operators, with the Krabi den allegedly posting incriminating footage of the Plai Phraya operation on social media. However, Arsit says neither operation is above the law.
“There is no gambling den in Thailand that the Department of Provincial Administration’s special operations team is afraid to shut down.”
SOURCE: The Pattaya News
