Pictures courtesy of Naewna.

 

Immigration and police forces have dismantled a large-scale illegal operation in central Pattaya believed to be backed by Chinese criminal networks. The eight-storey apartment building in Soi Sukhumvit 36 was found to house a casino, a cyber scam base and illegal foreign workers. Multiple suspects were arrested.

 

The coordinated raid was led by Police Major General Chairit Anurith, Commander of Immigration Division 3, alongside senior officers from the Pattaya City Police Station and Bang Lamung district officials. Acting on solid intelligence, the team stormed the apartment complex suspected to be a “one-stop” hideout for various illicit activities run by foreign nationals.

During the raid, officers discovered more than 50 units in the building had been transformed into zones for criminal operations. These included:

 

• A gambling area complete with mahjong tables, poker chips and other gambling equipment

• A high-tech call centre used in online scams

• A karaoke room catering to VIP guests

• A reception lobby designed to maintain the facade of a legitimate residence

 

Authorities identified three main groups of offenders:

 

1. Illegal Gamblers:

20 foreign nationals were arrested for gambling, including 16 Chinese, 3 Vietnamese, and 1 Singaporean. Officers seized poker tables, mahjong sets and large quantities of chips used in place of cash.

 

2. Immigration Violators:

24 people were charged with immigration and labour law violations. These included 16 Chinese and 2 Singaporeans (both violating visa terms), 1 Cambodian working illegally, and 5 Myanmar nationals (2 visa overstays and 3 illegal entries).

 

3. Call Centre Fraudsters:

On the top floor, six Chinese nationals were caught operating a sophisticated online scam. Authorities discovered they were distributing ransomware links disguised as corporate content to targets in China. Computers, 15 mobile phones and 9 laptops were seized. They face charges of belonging to a secret criminal society, working without permits and cybercrime-related offences.

 

The raid followed a tip-off from a local resident who noticed unusual night-time activity involving foreign nationals at the site, known as the Antai Holiday Hotel in Central Pattaya. Undercover agents conducted surveillance before the full-scale operation was launched.

 

All suspects have been formally charged and handed over to investigative officers for legal proceedings. Deportation orders have also been issued and the individuals will be blacklisted permanently, banning them from re-entering Thailand.

 

Authorities said the successful bust was the result of close coordination between the Immigration Bureau, Pattaya Police and district officials. It underscores growing concerns over the infiltration of transnational crime syndicates into Thai cities, particularly in tourist hubs like Pattaya.

 

Further investigations are underway to uncover the full extent of the network and potential financial backers.

 

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Naewna 2025-06-18

 

 

 

3 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

Antai Holiday Hotel in Central Pattaya.

they are on Hotels.com but sold out when you try dates...........

Police body cam footage from the raid.