CHIANG RAI -The Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) held a press briefing on the latest cyber police operation that took down the online gambling website GSA9GAME, which had an annual turnover of around 100 million baht and a main base in Chiang Rai province.
Pol. Lt. Gen. Surapol Prembutr, Commissioner of (CCIB), said this operation followed the policy of Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and National Police Chief Pol. Gen. Kittirat Phanphet, who ordered CCIB to speed up investigations and arrests related to online crime. The focus is on cracking down on scam networks, online gambling platforms, and all forms of illegal betting that harm the public and young people.
Investigators from Subdivision 1, Division 5 of CCIB, found that the website GSA9GAME had more than 5,000 members and had been running for over a year. The site handled over 100 million baht in transactions per year.
It secretly offered various online gambling services, such as lottery, slots, foreign football betting, baccarat, and several other types of wagers. Deposits for gambling were made through regular bank accounts.
The team investigated further and learned that this gambling website operated from Chiang Rai province. Members of the network were spread across several northern provinces.
Officers collected evidence, then asked the court to issue arrest warrants for 21 suspects, along with search warrants for targets in Chiang Rai province. The search locations included three spots in the Mae Sai district and one in the Mueang district.
Armed with search warrants from the Chiang Rai Provincial Court, the Cyber Police investigation team raided a house in Village 6, Mae Sai subdistrict, Mae Sai district, Chiang Rai province. Police arrested four suspects at the scene.
The suspects were identified as Mr. Chanapop Phonduan-heng, 38, the website administrator; Mr. Watchara Saenmuangmul, 31, responsible for running online ads for the gambling site; Ms. Kaesara Manowan, 31, who opened mule bank accounts for the site; and Ms. Kamtib Boonrat, 28, who also opened mule accounts for the operation.
Officers also tracked down other suspects who opened mule accounts used to receive and transfer money for the website. They seized more than 20 items as evidence, including mobile phones, computers, and bank books. In initial questioning, all suspects reportedly confessed.
Cyber Police have charged the group with organizing and promoting illegal gambling by electronic means without permission, including luring or inviting others, directly or indirectly, to gamble online. They also face charges of conspiracy, by agreement of two or more people, to commit money laundering, and carrying out money laundering as a result of that conspiracy.
