PATTAYA, Thailand – On June 17, 2025, a joint operation led by Immigration Bureau Division 3 (IB3) and Pattaya City Police raided an eight-story luxury apartment complex, located in Soi Sukhumvit Pattaya Central 36. The operation targeted an illegal hub housing foreign nationals involved in gambling, call center scams, and other illicit activities, resulting in the arrest of over 50 suspects.
Acting on a tip from a concerned citizen, authorities confirmed that the apartment was a hideout for illegal foreign nationals operating a comprehensive criminal network. Undercover investigations revealed suspicious nighttime activities, prompting a coordinated raid. The complex, comprising over 50 rooms, was divided into distinct zones, including a guest lobby, a gambling den equipped with mahjong tables, poker chips, and other equipment, a call center scam operation, and VIP karaoke rooms.
By 10:00 AM on June 17, officials confirmed the operation’s success, apprehending suspects in three main groups:
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Gambling Offenders: Twenty foreign nationals were arrested for illegal gambling, including 16 Chinese, three Vietnamese, and one Singaporean. Authorities seized poker tables, mahjong sets, and a large quantity of chips used as cash substitutes.
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Immigration Violations: Twenty-four individuals were detained for breaches of the Immigration Act B.E. 2522 (1979) and the Emergency Decree on Foreign Workers Management B.E. 2560 (2017). This group included 16 Chinese and two Singaporeans for overstaying visas (Section 37), one Cambodian for unauthorized work, and five Myanmar nationals, with two charged for visa violations and three for illegal entry.
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Call Center Scammers: Six Chinese nationals were arrested on the eighth floor, operating an online scam involving ransomware distribution. They were charged with “being members of a secretive organization with unlawful intent” and “working without a permit.” Authorities confiscated nine laptops and 15 mobile phones containing evidence of their activities.
The operation followed weeks of surveillance after reports of illegal gambling in Pattaya Central’s Soi Phaniad Chang. Investigators deployed undercover agents to confirm the presence of foreign nationals engaging in illicit activities before executing the raid.
All suspects have been charged according to their offenses and transferred to investigators for legal proceedings. They face prosecution, deportation to their countries of origin, and permanent blacklisting, barring re-entry to Thailand.
“This raid demonstrates our commitment to cracking down on transnational crime in Thailand,” said a senior immigration official. “We will continue to target those exploiting our country as a base for illegal operations.”
Authorities are expanding their investigation to determine potential links to broader criminal networks, with further arrests possible.
