83 People Arrested by Police in Raid on Gambling Den in Thai Coconut Plantation

(AsiaGameHub) –   Police have arrested 83 people in a raid on a suspected gambling den hidden within a Thai coconut plantation.

A specialized operations team conducted the operation at a plantation in Ratchaburi Province, where authorities confiscated cash and various gambling-related equipment, according to local media outlet Thairath.

Officials stated that the facility was well-established, as evidenced by vendors present on-site who were selling food and drinks to patrons.

Ratchaburi is located near the border with Myanmar. In Southeast Asia, many border regions have become notorious for hosting illegal casinos, gambling dens, and voice phishing call centers.

Thai Coconut Farm: Police Raid Kam Thua Ring

Authorities confirmed that the operators allowed gamblers to place bets on rounds of kam thua, a popular dice game where participants aim to surpass a designated banker.

Police from the Ratchaburi Provincial Internal Security Operations Command and Photharam Police Station explained that they initiated the raid following a tip-off from a member of the public.

The informant reported that a group of gamblers had been gathering in a clearing in the center of a plantation within the Photharam District.

Additional details revealed that this location had been used as an established gambling den for some time, with meetings typically occurring at night.

Although police carried out several prior raids without detecting any gambling activity, they returned to the site on the evening of May 8 and discovered over 100 vehicles parked near the entrance to a makeshift gambling den.

Detectives noted that suspects panicked upon seeing approaching officers. Some reportedly jumped into water-filled irrigation ditches, while others fled into the darkness.

In the bodycam footage released by police, officers can be seen assisting several suspects as they climbed out of trenches filled with chest-high water.

Eventually, law enforcement apprehended dozens of suspected patrons and operators. However, they admitted that some individuals managed to evade arrest by remaining concealed in dark areas of the coconut groves throughout the night.

Investigators seized numerous pieces of gambling paraphernalia, including a large betting table, betting chips, dice, dice shakers, and notebooks used to record scores.

The authorities also confiscated multiple makeshift food and drink stalls operated by vendors.

A Remote Location

All individuals taken into custody were brought to a multi-purpose building at the Photharam District Office complex for questioning.

None of the suspects immediately confessed to operating the gambling den. Authorities have since charged all those arrested with organizing and participating in illegal gambling for financial gain.

Detectives disclosed that the gang paid rent to the owner of the coconut plantation. They chose this remote location because it featured only one access point—a large gate—which allowed lookouts to control entry and exit, making the area difficult to approach.

Earlier this month, police in Bangkok froze and seized assets held in several bank accounts totaling more than 500 million baht, or approximately $15.3 million.

Officials indicated that these funds belonged to a money laundering network that supported a well-known online gambling operation.