Phuket cybercrime bust: Six arrested in online gambling crackdown
A significant operation against international cybercrime in Phuket has led to the arrest of six people, including three Taiwanese nationals, connected to a complex online gambling and money laundering scheme. This was part of an initiative by the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB).
The arrests were publicised yesterday, February 11, at the CCIB headquarters in Bangkok. The operation, named Hunting Down the Island and Breaking Up the International Terrorism Capital, was spearheaded by CCIB Commander Police Lieutenant General Trairong Phiwpaen and other senior law enforcement officials.
According to the Technology Crime Suppression Division (TCSD), the investigation uncovered an intricate financial network that facilitated illegal online gambling sites such as GoatBet178, Icb365, and Lavaslot777.
A bespoke financial system, tsn7.yourpay, and a mobile application, Tsnupay, were developed by the syndicate to enable rapid money transfers, effectively obscuring transaction trails.
Unlike conventional mule account systems that use sequential transfers, this operation dispersed funds instantly across multiple accounts, complicating detection.
The suspects enlisted Thai nationals to create mule accounts and undergo facial scanning to authorise transactions, compensating them per account and managing money flow.
A search warrant was executed at a luxury residence in Phuket’s Koh Kaew area around 3.30pm on February 10. This raid resulted in the arrest of six suspects: three Taiwanese nationals responsible for system operations and three Thai accomplices managing account verification.
The following items were seized during the raid:
– 119 mobile phones
– 2 computers with accessories
– 19 bankbooks
– 6 tablets of ecstasy (Category 1 narcotic)
– 74.5 grammes of ketamine (Category 2 narcotic)
Investigations showed that nearly 10 million baht (US$293,586) passed through the system daily. One Taiwanese suspect admitted to being hired by another Taiwanese national to oversee the system for a monthly salary of 50,000 baht (US$1,470), working continuously.
Thai operatives were paid 2,500 baht (US$73) per account and 20,000 baht (US$587) monthly for facial verification roles.
The suspects are facing numerous charges, including running an illegal electronic gambling network, money laundering, promoting illegal gambling services, and illegal possession of narcotics, as confirmed by the CCIB.
The CCIB continues to analyse evidence, particularly the seized mobile devices, to identify further accomplices, reported The Phuket News.
Pol. Lt. Ge. Trairong stated, “This syndicate represents a highly organised international money laundering operation aimed at concealing criminal proceeds from online gambling. We are actively pursuing additional suspects and expect further developments soon.”
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