Police block all entrances to gambling dens

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Police block all entrances to gambling dens
The Nation 2011-09-15

Complying with the government's anti-vice policy, police yesterday blocked all entrances to gambling dens in Bangkok's Tao Poon area.

The names and licence-plate numbers of all visitors were recorded and they were pressured not to return to these dens, Pol Colonel Jaroen Srisasalak, chief of yesterday's operation, said.

Up to 100 police officers, split into several teams, stood blocking the six entrances to the community complex, which is known to house many gambling dens.

Police said they did not have any warrants to conduct searches in the area as no gambling related activities had been reported recently. Also, they could not enter the premises because they were privately-owned properties.

However, police officers did search areas near the entrances to the community complex as authorised by warrants they had. The complex is surrounded by barbed wire, and it is believed that the residents were well compensated for acting as lookouts.

Jaroen said entrances to the complex would continue being blocked until clients stopped visiting or den owners felt the pressure and opened new dens elsewhere. Police guards and surveillance will be maintained round the clock, he added.

Meanwhile, two new casinos will soon be opening across the Thai-Cambodia border - one in the Sa Ngam Pass across from Si Sa Ket province's Phu Sing district on the Thai side, and the other in the border town of Anlong Veng in Cambodia.

Hatthachai Phengjaem, head of local tourism groups, said the casino in Anlong Veng would be privately-owned and permitted to operate under a government concession. The Bt1-billion complex would also include entertainment venues.

Chairman of the Si Sa Ket chamber of commerce, Siriphong Angkhasakulkiat, said the government had been asked for funds to expand the province's tourism facilities.
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Police Fail to Search Suspected Gambling Dens in Bangkok
Tan Network 2011-09-15

Police failed to carry out a search of suspected gambling dens in Bangkok, since the path leading to the suspected houses, which is privately owned, was not included in the search warrant held by the authorities.

Deputy Commander of Metropolitan Police Division 2 Police Colonel Chaoren Sreesasaluck led police officers from Taopoon police station, crowd control police officers, and border patrol police to conduct a search at two homes on Techawanit Road in Taopoon area of Bangkok.

Police believe the two homes belonging to Narong Peungwan have been used as gambling dens.
However, the raid operation could not be carried out since the path leading to the suspected houses, which is privately owned, was not included in the search warrant held by the authorities.

The search warrant issued by a court authorized police to search the houses only.

A number of police have been deployed to prevent people from entering and leaving the houses around the clock.
Earlier, police requested a warrant to search a parking area in the community, but the request was rejected by the court due to concerns over public privacy.