Authorities have shut down a major online gambling operation, which had around 367 million baht in transactions, and arrested three suspects in the Thai beach town of Hua Hin in Prachuap Khiri Khan province.
Led by the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB), the operation targeted a network linked to the online gambling website Lavabet555, said Pol Maj Gen Chomchawin Purathananon, deputy commander of Provincial Police Region 7, said during a press briefing on Friday.
On Thursday, police executed a search warrant approved by the Hua Hin Provincial Court at a residence in Hua Hin district. They arrested two suspects, identified only as 25-year-old Supachai and 24-year-old Khemana, and seized a personal computer, a laptop, three mobile phones and two bank passbooks.
During questioning, Mr Supachai and Ms Khemana confessed to managing the website, police said.
Further investigation led to the arrest of site administrator Chirapong, 26, at a residence in Pran Buri district, where police seized two computers, five mobile phones, three bank passbooks and five ATM cards.
Investigators said the Lavabet555 platform had been operational since Jan 25, 2022, with total funds in circulation reaching 367.4 million baht.
Authorities are expanding the investigation to pursue additional charges, including money laundering, illegal gambling networks and conspiracy to conduct online betting.