689 individuals arrested after police raids online gambling operation in Tachileik

On Friday, Tachileik, a town near Thailand’s border with Myanmar, saw an online gambling operation busted by military police.

A total of 689 persons were taken into custody as a result of the operation, including 540 locals, 148 Thai citizens, and one suspect who was Chinese.

After receiving a tip, authorities investigated an area close to or at the 1G1-7 Hotel and found 400 computers, 270 cellphones, 170 motorbikes, and 10 cars.

As part of the government’s efforts to combat online scams that target Thai internet users, this operation was conducted in coordination with officials from Myanmar and Thailand.

Thais and other tourists have come to love Tachileik, which is a well-known shopping center in the Shan State in eastern Myanmar. Police had previously taken action against suspected scammers in the area, and most of the convicts in this operation were reportedly young teens.

Following inspections at alleged fraud centers in the same location, about 500 Thai nationals were returned home in a similar operation the previous year. Of these, 174 were confirmed as forced labor and human trafficking victims, while the other people were thought to have participated in the scheme.

Original story by: Asia Gaming Brief