Thai police have conducted raids on 17 locations suspected of being connected to online gambling networks, leading to the seizure of approximately 1 billion baht in assets, including high-end vehicles and the arrest of nine individuals, including a prominent businessman and hotelier, Mek Rama. The raids were carried out by the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) and police commandos in several provinces, including Bangkok and Phuket.
Among the locations raided was a luxury home owned by Mek Rama, who is also the husband of actress Yardthip Rajpal. The police discovered a hidden room with a large vault containing valuable items. Mek was arrested on an arrest warrant for his alleged role in conspiring in online gambling operations and violating the Anti-Money Laundering Act.
The police operation aimed to gather evidence to prosecute individuals involved in gambling networks. Mek’s assets, including a Ferrari, a BMW, and three vans, were seized during the raids.
The Department of Special Investigation had already seized Mek’s 200-million-baht penthouse last month for his alleged involvement in the Forex-3D Ponzi scheme. Yardthip had previously denied that her husband was involved in the scam.
CCIB Commissioner Pol Lt Gen Worawat Watnakhornbancha stated that more details about the police operations would be released on March 31. This latest operation marks a significant crackdown on illegal online gambling activities in Thailand, which have been on the rise in recent years.
