Police arrested six people yesterday accused of running a large network of online gambling websites that law enforcement has targeted in recent days.
While none of the six has been identified, police said they are suspected of being involved in the gambling operation known as Macau888. Officers from multiple agencies took them into custody during six raids in Rayong and Chonburi provinces.
The day before, on Saturday, officers raided and shut down two night clubs on RCA, a popular nightlife destination near Rama IX Road.
Cops swarm RCA nightclub in search of ‘Macau888’ links and to hassle tourists
Investigators have determined that Macau888 includes a number of affiliated sites in Thailand and abroad. The suspects arrested Sunday – three men and three women – were admins of a site called Ifun168.
Officers seized computers, phones, computer network equipment, bank accounts, a pickup and motorcycle in the raids. Funds from the accounts reportedly totaled up to 25 million.
The police said all suspects were charged with advertising and inducing others to gamble without permission, using property to host illegal gambling, as well as gambling through electronic media.
Elsewhere, police on Sunday also raided more than 40 alleged gambling dens linked to the operation, where they seized assets including, most notably, Thailand’s only known Lamborghini Mad Bull Liberty Walk Aventador, estimated to be worth upward of THB40 million. It was confiscated in a Bangkok suburb and belonged to one of Macau888’s alleged ringleaders, 37-year-old Chaiwat Kajornboonthavorn, aka “Benz Daemon.”
Police say “Benz Daemon” was last seen boarding a flight to Hong Kong on January 16. His brother, identified by media as Bright, returned from Hong Kong on Feb. 1 and was detained for flying without permission.
