Police have arrested 11 people allegedly linked with running a multi-million-baht online gambling network, seizing at least three million baht worth of assets from the gang.
The crackdown on the syndicate that ran www.slot555.com, a well-known gambling website, was announced at Huai Khwang Police Station by deputy tourist police chief Pol Maj Gen Surachate Hakparn and other officers on Tuesday.
The website has a server in Bangkok's Bueng Kum district, Pol Maj Gen Surachate said.
Wasan Kaosa-art, head of the 103-million-baht network, was apprehended and charged with money laundering, according to police.
Another 10 alleged members of the gang were also captured.
Officers managed to seize at least three million baht worth of assets from the accomplices, which included two big bikes, a Mini Cooper car, seven mobile phones as well as bank accounts and other valuables.
Pol Maj Gen Surachate said an investigation found that Mr Wasan and his minor wife ran the gambling site.
The couple hired a programmer, Chatchai Saengkaew, to create the site.
The online gambling site has become popular, with at least 10,000 gamblers engaged in the virtual gambling den.
Pictures of popular actresses were used to promote the website through Line and Facebook Messenger mobile applications, he said.
Mr Chatchai was found to have handled the financial transactions for the network through bank accounts held by Mr Wasan's relatives in Samut Sakhon, Chachoengsao and Prachin Buri.
Mr Chatchai and another five accomplices are still on the run, Pol Maj Gen Surachate said.
"Online gambling by law is a felony associated with money laundering," the deputy tourist police chief said.
"Not just a recreational vice, this offence is detrimental to the economic system and leads the public and young people astray," he said.
According to Pol Maj Gen Surachate, multiple government organisations have worked to shut down 748 gambling websites this year.
