The notorious Tao Pun gambling den in Bang Sue district of Bangkok could be redeveloped as a police public service centre to end the cycle which sees the illegal casino quickly reopening every time it is shut down.
Pol Col Seehanat Prayoonrat, secretary-general of the Anti-Money Laundering Office (Amlo), said on Monday that although his office had formally seized the casino premises, gamblers still managed to sneak in regularly to continue their illegal activities.
Pol Col Seehanat Prayoonrat, secretary-general of the Anti-Money Laundering Office
A joint force of police and soldiers searched the place again late last week.
Pol Col Seehanat said he discussed the issue with national police chief Pol Gen Somyot Pumpunmuang, who said he had plans to turn the casino into a police sub-station, where officers would be deployed to offer public services.
Last Friday police and soldiers had forced their way through angry locals to reach and break into the three-storey Tao Pun casino, inside a 1,000-square-metre compound on Soi Khao San alley.
Authorities found no gamblers there at the time, but found a lot of gambling equipment, including Baccarat tables and a slot machine, as well as eight pistols.
Police had recently raided the Tao Pun gambling den four times, but failed to arrest anyone.
The 11-million-baht property is believed to belong to an influential figure, but land title deed shows a food vendor is the owner. Amlo froze the ownership of the building in early 2013.