National —
On October 29th, 2024, Thailand’s Department of Special Investigation (DSI), alongside the Immigration Bureau and relevant agencies, executed coordinated raids on 11 locations in Bangkok, Nakhon Pathom, and Pattaya.
This sweeping operation comes in response to online gambling networks infiltrating government websites and altering their data pathways to redirect users to gambling platforms. Initial investigations revealed that gambling operators had targeted 23 government agency websites.
The DSI, in cooperation with the National Cyber Security Agency (NCSA), traced these cyber intrusions, identifying unauthorized folders and files embedded within government websites.
These files diverted visitors to gambling sites, boosting the sites’ visibility on Google and drawing unsuspecting visitors. As part of the operation, authorities seized over 100 bank accounts, with annual funds exceeding 20 billion baht, along with cryptocurrency accounts, computers, digital wallets, and mobile devices, according to the officers.
The DSI cautioned that more regional government agencies could be affected, urging them to monitor their systems for unusual traffic behavior. At least some of those arrested and involved were allegedly Chinese nationals.
Any agency encountering suspicious activity is encouraged to report it to the DSI’s Technology and Information Division by calling 1202 or visiting www.dsi.go.th.
