Illegal alien caught in Phuket gambling raid

PHUKET: An illegal alien was snared when police busted a local gambling event in Patong last night.

Police were tipped off by locals about a small group of people who were gathered to gamble at a rental room on Phra Metta Road.

The three Thai nationals arrested in the bust were named as Nimit Thambanyo, 45; Thanaknut Narasukulpiphan, 35; and Sunan Paengthong, 37. The 26-year-old illegal Myanmar national was only named as “Mr Van”.

“There were four of them gambling when we arrived. They tried to run, but we caught them all,” said Suthichai Tianpo of the Patong Police.

Police seized gambling paraphernalia and 600 baht in cash.

All the men were charged for gambling. Mr Van was also charged for entering Thailand illegally.

— Thawit Bilabdullar