An illegal casino linked to a former politician has been discovered in Samut Prakan

Yesterday evening, May 21, authorities raided an abandoned hotel in Samut Prakan province, where they discovered an illegal gambling den. The operation, conducted by officers from the Department of Provincial Administration and the Bureau of Volunteer Defense Corps Administration, began around 8:00 PM on the fourth floor of the Chalermwong Hotel in Soi Suk Sawat 80, Phra Samut Chedi district. Investigators determined that the floor had been converted into a gambling establishment, equipped with a large gambling table and related equipment. Police arrested 55 people at the scene, including six gambling organizers and 49 players, among whom were both Thai nationals and foreigners. Authorities also seized chips and cash totaling over eight million baht. During the search, two military-grade firearms were found, believed to belong to the gambling den's security guards. The hotel owner was identified as former Lat Luang Deputy Mayor Prachaya Chalermwong, known as "Sia Boy." According to officials, undercover officers had previously visited the gambling den and allegedly observed Prachaya managing operations. However, he was not present during the raid. Prachaya's bank account showed transactions totaling over 43 million baht. Authorities suspect that a large portion of these funds was linked to gambling activities at an establishment reportedly popular among wealthy gamblers, including Chinese nationals. According to ThaiRath, bets at the gambling den ranged from over 100,000 baht to one million baht per round. Investigators also suspect that the daily cash turnover at the establishment could exceed 40 million baht. All suspects arrested during the operation were taken to the Phra Samut Chedi district office for questioning and legal processing. Authorities stated that further investigations would continue to determine Prachai's whereabouts and identify any additional suspects connected to the operation. In a similar case reported in February, police raided a luxury villa in Phuket and arrested nine foreign nationals involved in a poker game. Among the suspects were seven Russians, one Ukrainian, and one Kazakhstani. Another anti-gambling raid occurred in Chonburi last December after authorities discovered a luxury house being used as an illegal casino. Ten suspects were arrested, including one Thai national and nine foreigners. For readers: Please remember that gambling in Thailand, with the exception of the state lottery and horse racing, is illegal and can lead to serious legal consequences.