Pathum thani: Police at Pratu Nam Chulalongkorn Police Station raided an illegal gambling den, arresting 37 gamblers. The operation was conducted by investigators and crime prevention officers who targeted a house in Soi Rangsit-Nakhon Nayok 2, Prachatipat Subdistrict, Thanyaburi District, Pathum Thani Province, following a tip from an informant about illegal gambling activities involving dice games and hi-lo.
According to Thai News Agency, upon arrival, officers discovered male and female gamblers engaged in the games. An attempt by some gamblers to flee through the windows was thwarted as police had blocked all escape routes, leading to the arrest of 22 men and 15 women. The police confiscated several items from the site, including a cup with a lid, a plastic basket, 40 buttons used as substitutes for money, 24 dice, a stopwatch, a score sheet, a metal detector, and additional score sheets.
The arrested individuals, along with the seized evidence, were transported to the Pratu Nam Chulalongkorn Police Station. They face charges of "jointly engaging in illegal gambling for monetary gain without permission." Additionally, the identified ringleader will be prosecuted under Section 12 of the Gambling Act B.E. 2478, which could result in imprisonment for up to 2 years, a fine not exceeding 2,000 baht, or both.
Further investigation revealed that the gambling den operated as a mobile unit and had only been active for one day before the raid. All those apprehended have posted bail of 5,000 baht each and are scheduled to appear in Thanyaburi Provincial Court tomorrow morning.