Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) police searched the house of deputy national police chief Pol Gen Surachate "Big Joke" Hakparn in Bangkok on Monday morning after he was allegedly found to have been involved in gambling site operations.

The search was part of a larger operation called Big Cleaning Day.

Also to be searched were five houses in Soi Vibhavadi 60 behind the Police Club. The houses were reportedly bought by Surachate for his subordinates.

When police arrived about 8am, Surachate was at his house and received them wearing only a pair of boxers and a white T-shirt. He reportedly refused to let the police into his house.

The search team had to wait for the CCIB commissioner to arrive. After he arrived, Surachate allowed the search.

Surachate's house, in Soi Vibhavadi 60, was reportedly among about 30 houses to be searched on Monday in Bangkok and five provinces.

The other houses reportedly belong to junior police officers close to Surachate and alleged to have been involved in online gambling sites operating in Laos with about one billion baht in circulation.

In operation Big Cleaning Day a number of officers, including a police major general and a police colonel, in a team of investigators under Surachate were reportedly arrested. They were  expected to be taken to Metropolitan Police Division 5 headquarters on Sathorn road for questioning.