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Major General Chonsit Wadhnawarangkun: ordered immediate police raids

Phuket Police Probe Maverick MP's Claims of Russian 'Mafia' in Phuket Casinos

Thursday, March 29, 2012
PHUKET: A major police investigation was underway on Phuket today after extraordinary claims that Russian gangs are running a huge illegal gambling industry on Phuket with the help of police and other officials.

The claims came from maverick MP Chuvit Kamolvisit, a Rak Thailand Party member, at a media conference in Bangkok.

Although Mr Chuvit's claims have not always been substantiated in the past, Phuket's Police Commander, Major General Chonsit Wadhnawarangkun immediately ordered Phuket police to carry out raids on the alleged illegal casinos.

The former massage parlor tycoon's credibility probably rides on the accuracy of the remarkable claims he made today.

He said that, with the help of police and other officials, the Russian ''Spachiba'' gang had set up money-laundering outlets on Phuket, taking control of five-star resorts and villas in the process and creating two large illegal casinos.

Mr Chuvit said the biggest, in Patong's Soi Sansabai, was called ''Gambilng Tiger'' and handled 100 million baht a day. A second in the Tungthong district of Phuket handled 70-80 million baht a day.

Daily payoffs were made to police or Immigration officers, he claimed.

He said Phuket must have once been the Pearl of the Andaman but was now rapidly becoming the ''Bad Egg'' of the Andaman.

Mr Chuvit said he had been to Phuket recently and discovered a mosque and a school within six kilometres of the Phuket Governor's mansion where there was no electricity.

He said he was not surprised that PM Yingluck Shinawatra and her Cabinet on their recent visit to Phuket had been entertained at the five-star Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort and Spa rather than visiting the powerless mosque and school.

Commander Major General Chonsit swung teams of police into action late this afernoon as soon as he heard Mr Chuvit's claims.

Comments

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fast work by Phuketwan

Posted by juswunderin on March 29, 2012 17:50

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Well that wouldn't be a surprise would it, they've managed to do it so many other places. Keep us posted on this one Ed

Posted by phuket madness on March 29, 2012 17:58

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Can I plug John Le Carre's book 'Our Kind of Traitor' here. All about Russian and CIS criminal brotherhood money laundering activities - should be a forced read for the police (if a Thai version is available) and Mr.Chuvit.

Posted by Pete on March 29, 2012 18:45

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Anyone know if they offer poker at those casinos?

Posted by John on March 29, 2012 19:05

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With the risk of being politically incorrect the expansion of Russian tourism has brought Thailand a excess of ill-fitting speedos, Russian ghettos, and off course the ''russian mafia''. Goa in India is going through the same thing. Russian pushing and pushing into illegal activities and well as bringing the Huge tours that overwhelm wherever they go. Hopefully the investigation will bear fruit and there will be deportations in the future.

Posted by capealava on March 29, 2012 19:15

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AS for all the russian bom girls, operating in Laguna and Surin Beach, how did they get work permits? The law seems to state that, hooking is a restricted employment, reserved only for Thai nationals? Amazing Thailand, where one can sell your soul so cheaply in the name of greed and corruption.

Posted by Dun on March 30, 2012 06:39


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