In a significant operation, police in Pattaya arrested 25 Indian nationals after raiding a villa being used as the base for three online gambling websites. The villa, located in Soi Nong Mai Kaen 19, was found to have over 700 million baht circulating through its platforms. Authorities raided the site on March 24, responding to a tip-off regarding illegal activities. Get today's headlines by email The villa, secured with sunshades to prevent outsiders from peering in, included a garage converted into an office with darkened windows. Inside, police found 25 individuals working on laptops, equipped with an electricity generator and frozen food supplies. The suspects admitted their roles in managing the operations of gambling websites, which generated about 5.6 million rupees per day, translating to 700 million baht annually. Evidence seized from the site included laptops and mobile phones. All arrested individuals held tourist visas without work permits, leading to charges under Section 8 of the Foreign Workers Management Act. Penalties could involve fines ranging from 5,000 to 50,000 baht, deportation, and a two-year ban on reapplying for work permits in Thailand. This operation is part of a series of recent arrests involving Indian nationals in Pattaya. Previous incidents include a raid in November last year, resulting in the arrest of five individuals for running a similar operation. Additionally, in December, 19 nationals were detained over illegal online businesses. Earlier this February, two Indian men were charged after coercing a woman into prostitution, underscoring a troubling pattern. Looking forward, authorities aim to curb illegal online activities and enhance immigration scrutiny to prevent similar operations. Efforts will include increased surveillance and collaboration across law enforcement agencies to tackle cross-border illegal enterprises effectively, reported The Thaiger. Join the discussion? Already a member? Adapted by ASEAN Now · The Thaiger · 25 Mar 2026
View full article
Create an account or sign in to comment