Police on trail of “Four Brothers” gambling ring

Police raided properties across the country yesterday and arrested a prominent member of the “Four Brothers” gambling ring. Police were gathering evidence on the “four brothers” who have been accused by a TV actor of operating the gambling website macau888.

Police led by Pol Maj Gen Wiwat Kamchamnan, deputy commissioner of the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau, raided eight premises with suspected links to macau888.

The action centred around a luxury house in Nonthaburi belonging to prime suspect Natthaphong “Zico” Shina, 28 years old and a native of Udon Thani. Natthaphong was wanted for running an online gambling operation and money laundering but was not in the house at the time of the raid.

The house contained thousands of football gambling slips and underground lottery bets, as well as details of macau888’s customers. Natthaphong ran the network’s finances, said the cybercrime deputy chief.

Natthaphong was arrested during another raid at a condominium in Udon Thani.

The operation came about after a Facebook post by TV actor Arisara “Due” Thongborisut on January 15. In her post, Arisara alleged that macau888 was run by “four brothers.” One of the four was said to be her ex-boyfriend, “Benz Daemon.” The actor, who is a close friend of firebrand MP Thamanat Prompow of the Setthakij Thai Party, flew to Taiwan with her family after making the post.

A raid in Bangkok’s Chatuchak district belongs to 39 year old Noppanat Sangkhasap, another financial manager for the “Four Brothers” gambling ring. During the raid, two guns and ammunition, three cars, bank accounts and company documents l were seized.

Mr Noppanat reportedly flew to Hong Kong with his family before the police raid. He bought air tickets in advance, and it was believed that he might meet the four brothers there. Noppanat contacted police saying he would return to Thailand on February 10.

The police team also searched Beat The World Co on Rama IX Road and uncovered evidence that showed links between Noppanat and Ekkachai “Boss” Khachornbunthavorn, one of the four brothers of the gambling ring.