PATTAYA, THAILAND – Police in Nong Prue dismantled an illegal poker game in a commercial building within a residential area, arresting 14 suspects and seizing extensive gambling equipment.
Raid on suspected gambling hub
The operation took place on the evening of 22 February after tips about illegal gambling in a building in the Nong Prue subdistrict had reached investigators. Officers arriving at the scene found an active poker game where money and other assets were being wagered without official authorization.
Senior officers oversaw the operation
The raid was conducted under the supervision of Pol Col Natthaphon Phongsuksukul, head of the Nong Prue Police Station. Coordination on site was handled by Pol Lt Col Wirat Thetthong, deputy chief for crime suppression, and Pol Lt Col Khamron Rotma, crime suppression inspector.
A team of uniformed officers and special units thoroughly searched the premises and secured all access points to prevent anyone from escaping.
Fourteen players taken into custody
When officers entered the building, they discovered 14 people playing poker and staking cash and other valuables. According to police, the group was completely taken by surprise, and despite brief commotion, all participants were arrested without further incident.
Professional equipment seized as evidence
As evidence, investigators confiscated a large quantity of poker chips in various denominations, six decks of cards, a dedicated poker table and a CCTV camera with a memory card. The technical setup, police assessed, indicated a permanent rather than an occasional gambling operation.
Strict gambling laws invoked
All 14 detainees were initially charged with jointly taking part in illegal gambling in the form of poker involving assets without legal permission, an offence under the country’s strict gambling laws. The suspects and the seized items were handed over to investigators at the Nong Prue Police Station for further processing and the next legal steps.