Law enforcement officials in Samut Prakarn province have made a significant breakthrough, apprehending two suspects believed to be running a substantial online lottery operation. The individuals, identified as 42-year-old Boonreum and 48-year-old Baworn, were taken into custody at a residence in the Bang Bo district, where authorities uncovered evidence of widespread gambling activities, including Thai, Laos, and underground lotteries.
Today’s raid, prompted by an investigation into an online venture known as Wealthy Home, targeted the duo who had been actively recruiting team leaders and agents via social media platforms like Facebook. The allure of joining included enticing perks such as birthday bonuses and a commission structure aimed at attracting and retaining a broad network of lottery ticket sellers.
During the operation, law enforcement officers seized promotional materials for upcoming lottery draws scheduled for April 16 and May 2, alongside an extensive cache of items, including 19,500 lottery tickets, 100 notebooks containing lottery entries, two notebooks for tracking illegal lottery activities, 600,000 baht (US$16,000) in cash, four mobile phones, and two laptops.
Following initial inquiries, Boonreum confessed to orchestrating the lucrative online lottery racket for over a year, admitting to printing 10,000 lottery tickets per draw and distributing them through a network of agents across the country.
The Cyber Task Force of the police is now broadening the scope of the investigation to encompass all individuals associated with the illicit operation. Preliminary findings indicate that the suspects’ bank accounts registered transactions amounting to 13.4 million baht (US$366,000), with approximately 200 agents implicated in distributing the lottery tickets.
Authorities are treating this crackdown with utmost seriousness, as part of a wider initiative led by the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau to stamp out all forms of online gambling, in alignment with national directives. This incident serves as a stern warning to those enticed by the promise of quick wealth through illegal betting – both operators and participants alike will face legal consequences, as reported by KhaoSod.
The suspects have been charged with organizing and promoting unlawful gambling activities without proper authorization. They, along with the seized evidence, have been transported to the Bang Phli police station for further legal proceedings.
