Thailand cracks down on illegal gambling dens

The government has identified illegal gambling dens as a major source of Covid-19 infections.

Thailand.- The Thai government has launched three new sub-committees that will try to tackle the country’s illegal gambling dens, which have been signalled as a major source of Covid-19 infections.

One sub-committee, headed by police inspector-general Gen Sarawut Kanphanit, will pinpoint areas where illegal gambling dens operate and examine the links between their heads and local police forces and administrative organisations.

Interior Ministry inspector, Phusit Somchit, will lead another sub-committee with the goal of proposing long-term measures to combat illegal gambling.

The third sub-committee will investigate the money trail illegal gambling dens leave. It will be headed by Pol Col Akkharaphon Bunyopatsatam, deputy director-general of the Department of Special Investigation.

Illegal gambling in Thailand

The goal is to present the findings to a central committee and Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, who leads the decision-making process in the fight against Covid-19 in Thailand.

Thailand reported 309 new coronavirus cases on Friday, bringing the total number of infections in the past year to 13,104. Only 71 coronavirus-related fatalities have been recorded to date.

The country is debating the possibility of legalising gambling as a way to tackle the problem of illegal gambling dens.