Police Raid Online Gambling Ring, Local Councillor Arrested

Pictures courtesy of Naewna

Police in central Thailand have dismantled a major online gambling network linked to the website UFA-D, arresting multiple suspects including a serving municipal councillor in Lopburi. The operation, conducted by Region 1 investigators and local police on 26 September 2025, involved coordinated raids at several locations across Lopburi and neighbouring Saraburi. Officers seized weapons, bank books, mobile phones and computers connected to the illegal network.

The raids began at 06:30, led by Pol Maj Gen Worachat Saenkham, Commander of Region 1 Investigation Division, alongside senior officers from Lopburi Provincial Police. At a hotel in Lopburi’s Muang district, police arrested 27-year-old Nattawut under arrest warrant 220/2568. A second suspect, 27-year-old Napadol, was detained at a private home under warrant 223/2568, while another man, 27-year-old Sakchai, was arrested in Saraburi under warrant 222/2568.

The three were charged with organising unauthorised electronic gambling activities including baccarat and slot machines, conspiracy to launder money and jointly committing money laundering offences. Evidence seized included a .45 calibre handgun with 21 bullets, two laptops, eight mobile phones, bank account books and SIM cards. Officers confirmed that the network was extensive and had established financial systems for handling illegal transactions.

At 16:00 on the same day, police identified and arrested a fourth suspect, 43-year-old Suphawat, a municipal councillor, under warrant 221/2568. He arrived at Muang Lopburi Police Station intending to visit the earlier detainees when officers executed the warrant. Suphawat denied the charges but confirmed his identity as the person named in the warrant.

Pol Maj Gen Worachat said the crackdown followed direct instructions from Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul to intensify action against online crime and gambling operations nationwide. Senior police leadership, including national police adviser Pol Gen Akaradech Phimolsri and Region 1 Commander Pol Lt Gen Suraphon Prembutr, oversaw the investigation. Authorities revealed that the network managed financial flows of between one and two million baht each month.

All suspects have been transferred to Muang Lopburi Police Station for further investigation and prosecution. Police confirmed that evidence collection and financial tracing will continue to dismantle the wider network, with further arrests expected as inquiries progress. The case highlights ongoing efforts to curb online gambling and related money laundering activities in Thailand.

Key Takeaways

• Police arrested four suspects, including a municipal councillor, in Lopburi on 26 September 2025.

• The UFA-D gambling network generated an estimated one to two million baht monthly.

• Weapons, bank records, mobile phones, and laptops were seized as evidence.

Related Stories

Man-kills-girlfriend-over-online-gambling-loss-of-25000-baht

Online-gambling-page-owner-arrested-in-Bangkok

  Adapted by Asean Now from Naewna 2025-09-28