Prachuap Khiri Khan: Cyber police raided a gray startup, arresting the admin of the Lavamax website who had set up a gang to run a gambling website in the middle of Hua Hin District, Prachuap Khiri Khan Province. It was found that in 8 months, there was a turnover of more than 8 million baht.
According to Thai News Agency, at the Technology Crime Suppression Division (TCSD) or Cyber Police Headquarters, Pol. Lt. Gen. Trairong Phiwpaen, Commander of the Cyber Police, along with Pol. Maj. Gen. Chatchapan Kanya Klaiklueng, Commander of Cyber Police Division 3, jointly announced the results of Operation Huahin Strike. They arrested a gang of young people who had established a gambling website startup in Hua Hin, with over 8 million baht in circulation.
There were two major operations: The first operation involved the arrest of a gang of teenagers who started a gambling website startup in Hua Hin. The money circulation was found to be over 8 million baht. Officers investigated an online gambling website, the ‘LAVAMAX1688’ network, which had over a thousand members. It was found that all suspects were teenagers from Hua Hin District. They systematically divided their duties and bank accounts into various types, including betting, customer payment, money holding, and beneficiary accounts.
The police collected evidence and requested the Khon Kaen Provincial Court to issue arrest warrants for 7 suspects before leading forces to inspect 3 target locations, arresting 6 suspects according to the warrants. All were website administrators.
From the initial investigation, all suspects confessed to creating an online gambling website together. Mr. Naratphon, a suspect still at large, who has technology knowledge, was the one who invited them. They divided duties and benefits systematically, believing they would be safe from arrest by operating in Hua Hin District.
The officers took all suspects into custody, charging them with ‘colluding to organize gambling or using tricks to lure, help advertise or directly or indirectly persuade others to gamble or bet on electronic media without permission, colluding to commit money laundering and committing money laundering.’ They are expediting the pursuit of accomplices still at large.
Although the gambling network may not have had much money circulating or many members, the police’s ability to arrest and investigate the network is seen as a way to prevent the expansion of gambling websites and reduce illegal income from gambling, thus mitigating potential damage to the economy, society, and youth in the future.