Crime Three Chinese Nationals Arrested in Chiang Mai for Running Online Gambling Operation

[Georgealbert]

 

Picture courtesy of Workpoint.

 

Three Chinese men have been arrested in Chiang Mai after allegedly using student visas as a cover to operate an illegal online gambling website targeting fellow Chinese nationals. Authorities say the trio were running a sophisticated operation from a rented house in a well-known housing estate in San Sai district.

 

The arrests were led by Pol. Lt. Gen. Krittapol Yeesakhorn, Commissioner of Provincial Police Region 5, alongside officers from the Region 5 Technology Crime Suppression Centre, Immigration Police, and the Tourist Police. The operation followed a tip-off about suspicious activities at the residence.

 

During the raid, officers apprehended three Chinese men aged between 29 and 30. Seized at the scene were three laptop computers, seven mobile phones, internet equipment and various digital devices. Examination of the computers revealed they were operating an international gambling website called “GO 1818,” presented entirely in Chinese and designed to lure Chinese users into online gambling.

 

Initial investigations showed that the suspects had originally entered Thailand on tourist visas, later enrolling in educational institutions to obtain student visas. Since September 2024, they had been renting the house for 22,000 baht per month. Acting as administrators for the gambling site, each earned a reported monthly salary of 50,000 baht. Police confirmed that the overall operation was being directed by a ringleader based in China.

 

The investigation was sparked by complaints from neighbours and local residents who noticed the foreign occupants rarely left the house for weeks, behaviour inconsistent with typical tourists or students. This led to the court-approved search warrant and subsequent arrests.

 

The suspects have been charged with “organising or promoting gambling via electronic media without permission,” a serious offence under the law.

 

Pol. Lt. Gen. Krittapol stated that the operation was highly organised and believed to be part of a wider transnational gambling network. He raised concerns about the abuse of student visa channels by foreign nationals seeking to establish illicit operations in Thailand.

 

He urged educational institutions to carefully review and consider revoking the student visas of individuals who may be using enrolment as a cover for illegal activities. Immigration authorities will now conduct a full review of visa issuance procedures and perform thorough background checks on foreign nationals holding student visas in the country.

 

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Workpoint 2025-06-17

 

 

 

[hotchilli]

9 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

 

The investigation was sparked by complaints from neighbours and local residents who noticed the foreign occupants rarely left the house for weeks, behaviour inconsistent with typical tourists or students.

Unlike the owners who just took the monthly rent money

[Watawattana]

Some good lesson-learning in this - take it in turns to go out and about!