Breaking! Administrative Officials Raid Gambling Den in Samut Prakan, Seize Over 7 Million Baht in Cash and Chips

At 7:30 PM on May 21, 2569, Interior Department officials launched Operation 'Close the Mouth of the River Game' to dismantle a floating gambling den on the 4th floor of a dilapidated hotel on Suk Sawat Soi 80, Mueang Phra Samut Chedi district, Samut Prakan province. The raid followed public reports of illegal gambling to the Department of Interior. After investigation and notification to the Prime Minister and Interior Minister, special operations units coordinated with volunteer territorial defense members to plan the arrest. Undercover officers posed as gamblers, and when they signaled, officials raided the operation. Some gamblers panicked and attempted to escape by climbing through windows to other rooms, but all were apprehended.

Authorities discovered illegal gambling activities with one large table featuring a dice game and a hi-lo game. In total, 63 people were arrested: 13 operators and 50 gamblers (40 male, 23 female, including 3 foreign nationals). Seized items included hi-lo and dice gambling equipment, 926,800 baht in cash, 6,934,800 baht in chips, and records showing daily circulation of over 43 million baht. Officers also found a 9mm pistol loaded with 14 rounds and additional ammunition (.38 caliber, 9mm, and shotgun shells) in the hotel office. The hotel, operated by a former local politician from Samut Prakan, lacked a business license that had expired over a decade ago. All suspects and seized items were brought to Mueang Phra Samut Chedi District Office for initial processing and transferred to Phra Samut Chedi Police Station for further legal proceedings.