Photo: Bangkok Police/Facebook
BANGKOK – Thai police raided an illegal gambling den disguised as a Chinese restaurant in Bangkok’s Yannawa district on February 14, arresting 12 foreign nationals, including two Singaporeans.
Raid on Hidden Gambling Den
Authorities had received intelligence that a building in the district operated as a Chinese restaurant on the first floor while hosting a poker den on the third floor. During the raid, police discovered over 20 gamblers, arresting 10 men and two women.
The arrested individuals included:
- 8 Chinese nationals
- 2 Singaporeans
- 1 Filipino
- 1 Indian
A Thai woman, identified as the building’s caretaker, was also taken into custody.
Seized Items & Charges
Police confiscated gambling-related items and more than 6 million baht (S$238,000) in various currencies, including:
- Singapore dollars, Chinese yuan, Hong Kong dollars, euros, and Macanese patacas
- Two bags of cash chips
- A poker table and 10 card decks
- Nine chairs, 15 mobile phones, and 45 bottles of illegal imported liquor
Statements & Legal Action
One foreign gambler claimed he was invited by a friend and was unaware that gambling is illegal in Thailand, adding that he had regularly gambled abroad, especially in Singapore.
Authorities also discovered that one of the Singaporeans had overstayed in Thailand.
Initially, police charged all gamblers for playing without permission, while the Thai caretaker was charged for organizing the gambling activities. Investigations are ongoing to identify more suspects.
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