Police raid luxury villa poker den, arrest 16 Chinese
Police raided a luxury villa in Chonburi's Bang Lamung district and arrested 16 Chinese nationals operating an illegal poker den, seizing millions of baht in chips and cash.
CHONBURI — Authorities in Chonburi province arrested 16 Chinese nationals during a late-night raid on an illegal poker den operating from a luxury house in Bang Lamung district on Wednesday night.
At 11:46 p.m., a coordinated task force led by Naphatphong Khositsuriyamanee (Chonburi Immigration Superintendent), Nattapol Pongsooksakul (Nong Prue Police Chief), and Prabda Suksoontree (Inspector General of Tourist Police Sub-Station 4, Subdivision 2, Tourist Police Division 1) raided a residence at 243/15 Soi Mab Yai Lia 24, Nong Prue Subdistrict. Officers from the Immigration Bureau, Tourist Police, and Bang Lamung Administrative Office participated in the operation.
Authorities arrested 16 suspected gamblers and seized approximately 100,000 baht in cash, gambling chips valued at several million baht, three poker tables, and large quantities of playing cards and gambling equipment.
The investigation began following complaints from local residents who noticed unusually large numbers of Chinese tourists entering the property. Residents expressed additional concerns about security, citing a previous incident in which Chinese nationals were allegedly found hiding C4 explosives in the area. Officers monitored the house, confirmed regular activity by Chinese nationals, and planned the late-night raid to catch the group off guard, given the property's perimeter surveillance cameras.
During the raid, three suspects attempted to escape by jumping from a second-floor window and sustained injuries when they hit the ground. Medical personnel provided first aid while officers secured the premises. Officers found 13 Chinese gamblers—both male and female—in a panicked state along with evidence of gambling activities and food and beverages prepared for the players.
All 16 suspects (13 men and three women) were taken into custody for questioning. Authorities are currently verifying their immigration status before they are transferred to investigators for further legal proceedings.
