Police Raid Don Mueang Battery Shop, Seize 3.8M Baht Linked to Online Gambling

Matichon•General•266d ago

Reader Briefing

Authorities have busted a money laundering operation hidden within a battery shop in Don Mueang, seizing over 3.8 million baht in cash suspected of being used to launder funds for the '888' family of online gambling websites.

•Police in Don Mueang raided a battery shop and confiscated 3.8 million baht in cash.
•The shop was allegedly used as a front for money laundering activities for online gambling websites, specifically the '888' family.
•Two individuals were arrested, involved in processing gambling funds and managing accounts.
•The online gambling website has been operational for approximately two years, with an estimated annual turnover of over 200 million baht.

Overview

•On Jan 29, Cybercrime Investigation Bureau police, led by Deputy Commander Pol.Col. Wiwat Khamchaman, raided a battery shop in Don Mueang, Bangkok.
•The raid was part of an escalated crackdown on technology crimes, particularly online gambling, by the Cybercrime Investigation Bureau.
•The investigation stemmed from advertisements for the online gambling website dg888.wowspeed, leading to the arrest of advertisers and further tracing of illicit funds.
•Police arrested two suspects: Panupong (Teuy), 32, responsible for monitoring gambling website transactions, and Saksin (Pang), 31, who collected and deposited gambling funds.
•Over 3,800,000 THB in cash, an automatic money counter, five ATM cards, a safe, and three mobile phones were seized during the raid.
•The battery shop operated 24-hour battery sales and replacement services as a facade to conceal its money laundering activities.
•The arrested individuals were charged with jointly organizing or facilitating online gambling and advertising it without authorization.
•Police are continuing their investigation to apprehend other members of the syndicate, identify the website owners, and trace and seize assets obtained from illegal activities under the Anti-Money Laundering Act.

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Key Quotes

Police Lieutenant Colonel Praman Nitiboon

"I handled the financial system of the gambling website as ordered by the boss, responsible for contacting the website's admin and exchanging transfer slips and money."

ตนเองทำหน้าที่เกี่ยวกับระบบการเงินของเว็บพนันดังกล่าวตามคำสั่งของบอส มีหน้าที่คอยติดต่อพูดคุยกับแอดมินเว็บพนัน และส่งสลิปการโอนเงิน – รับโอนเงิน

Panupong (Teuy)

"I am the accountant for the battery shop, acting as a back-end accountant for the aforementioned gambling website."

ผมเป็นเสมียรของร้านแบตเตอร์รี่ ทำหน้าที่เป็นผู้ตรวจสอบบัญชีหลังบ้านให้เว็บพนันดังกล่าว

Key Entities

Person

Police Lieutenant General Surapol Prembutr(พล.ต.ท.สุรพล เปรมบุตร)

Commissioner of the Cybercrime Investigation Bureau who ordered the intensified crackdown on technology crimes and online gambling.

Police Major General Wiwat Khamchaman(พล.ต.ต.วิวัฒน์ คำชำนาญ)

Deputy Commissioner of the Cybercrime Investigation Bureau who led the raid on the battery shop.

Police Major General Kruttat Bamrungrattanyot(พล.ต.ต.กฤตัชญ์ บำรุงรัตนยศ)

Commander of Cyber Task Force 4, who was involved in overseeing the operation.

Police Colonel Supakorn Thanyakham(พ.ต.อ.ศุภกร ธัญญกรรม)

Deputy Commander of Cyber Task Force 4, involved in the raid.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Prompol Nitiboon(พ.ต.ท.พร้อมพล นิตย์วิบูลย์)

Deputy Superintendent assisting in Investment Section 2, Cyber Task Force 4, involved in the operation.

Police Captain Yutthapong Amor mongkonsilp(พ.ต.ต.ยุทธพงษ์ อมรมงคลศิลป์)

Inspector assisting in Investment Section 2, Cyber Task Force 4, involved in the raid.

Police Captain Prempracha Utman(พ.ต.ต.เปรมประชา อุตมา)

Inspector assisting in Investment Section 2, Cyber Task Force 4, involved in the raid.

Mr. Panupong or Toey(นายภานุพงศ์ หรือ เต้ย)

A 32-year-old suspect arrested for monitoring the financial transactions of the online gambling website.

Mr. Saksin or Paang(นายศักดิ์สิทธิ์ หรือ ป้าง)

A 31-year-old suspect arrested for collecting and aggregating gambling funds into bank accounts.

Organization

Cybercrime Investigation Bureau(ตำรวจไซเบอร์)

The police unit responsible for investigating and suppressing technology-related crimes, including online gambling.

Investment Section 2, Metropolitan Police Bureau, Cyber Task Force 4(กก.2 บก.สอท.4)

A specific division within the Cybercrime Investigation Bureau that conducted the investigation and raid.

Criminal Court(ศาลอาญา)

The court that issued the search warrant for the battery shop raid.

Place

Don Mueang(ดอนเมือง)ℹ️

The district in Bangkok where the battery shop, allegedly used for money laundering, was located.

Bangkok(กทม.)ℹ️

The capital city of Thailand, where the raided battery shop was located.

Law

Anti-Money Laundering Act(พ.ร.บ.ป้องกันและปราบปรามการฟอกเงิน)ℹ️

The legislation under which police are investigating and seeking to seize assets from the money laundering operation.