17 arrested: Phuket police roll the dice on illegal gambling
Phuket City police swooped down on an illegal gambling den in Phuket Town on 12 January, bagging 17 people in the process of a dramatic after-dark sting.
The raid, executed with precision by officers in tandem with provincial police, caught the crooks red-handed at a residence on Soi Wichit Songkhram 4, just after 9pm.
Upon arrival, officers immediately sensed something was amiss as they found the house shrouded in darkness, yet conspicuously lined with numerous pairs of shoes outside, an unmistakable sign of lively activity within. Suspicions arose that the gamblers employed a lookout to sound the alarm at the first whiff of law enforcement.
Undeterred, undercover officers managed to infiltrate the gathering, confirming the involvement of 17 people in illicit gambling activities. The police moved swiftly, detaining all present and seizing cash and gambling gear as evidence.
The unlucky group is now facing charges for engaging in an unlicensed ‘shrimp and fish’ game, a pastime that demands proper legal authorisation.
Hauled off along with their confiscated items, the suspects were taken to Phuket City Police Station for further inquiry and formal charges.
In related news, six people, comprising both Thai and Cambodian nationals, were apprehended for engaging in illegal gambling on Jomtien Beach, Chon Buri province. The open-air gambling occurred on Friday, January 10, with many participants fleeing the scene as law enforcement approached.
Police Colonel Navin Theerawit, the superintendent of Pattaya City Police Station, received a report of the illicit activity taking place at the beach near Soi 12, Beach Road. In response, Police Lieutenant Colonel Sirachat Nootes, deputy superintendent of Pattaya City Police Station, was tasked with dispatching patrol officers to address the situation.
Undercover officers infiltrated the gambling circle, uncovering nearly ten individuals, both male and female, openly playing a dice gambling game using mobile phones on Jomtien Beach. The group’s boisterous behaviour disturbed nearby tourists, disrupting the serene atmosphere of the area. Consequently, the police devised a plan to intervene and arrest the gamblers promptly.
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