Rawai, Phuket –
Police raided a villa where they discovered five Russians who were playing poker and gambling in Rawai, Mueang Phuket.
The Region 8 Police told the Phuket Express that on Monday (January 22nd) they and the Chalong Police raided a luxury villa in Soi Salika. Five Russians were found playing poker and gambling. Seized from them were two sets of poker cards, 88 currency chips, and Baraku (Shisha or Hookah which is also illegal in Thailand)
The arrest came after police received a tip-off from a concerned citizen that foreigners were playing illegal gambling games inside the villa. The suspects admitted to police that they were playing poker and gambling with currency chips to exchange for crypto.
They were taken to the Chalong Police Station to face charges of playing illegal gambling games and one of them is facing an additional charge for forbidden importing of an illegal item (Baraku).
Thailand has some of the strictest anti-gambling laws in the world, notes The Phuket Express. The names of the suspects were not released by relevant authorities.
