Thai police have arrested 18 Vietnamese citizens in an operation targeting them for suspected involvement in illegal online gambling activities.
According to reports, Lieutenant General Ittiphol Itthisarnronchai, director of the local immigration bureau, revealed that immigration officials suspected that there were illegal gambling activities in a luxury property in Bangkok's Rama 9 district.
Ten men and eight women were at the scene and are now facing charges relating to organising online gambling activities and inducing others to gamble.
The raid seized 35 items, including computers and other related equipment used to conduct online gambling activities.
Following a tip-off about a group of foreigners behaving suspiciously in the area, immigration investigators placed them under surveillance and confirmed their involvement in online gambling.
On the basis of legal proceedings, investigators obtained an approved search warrant from the Phra Khanong Criminal Court for the two-storey residence.
Among the evidence uncovered during the operation, authorities showed the property had been converted into a hub for online gambling activities, complete with living and work areas for participants.
During interrogation, the suspects admitted that they were administrators of the online gambling platform.
They revealed that the operation was masterminded by another Vietnamese national and that each participant received a monthly payment of 20,000 baht (around 511.90 euros), as well as commissions based on the volume of bets they facilitated.
