Police in Thailand have raided the home of one of the most high-profile officers in the nation as part of a probe into an illegal gambling ring dubbed “Betflix.” The wide-ranging operation saw SWAT teams carry out raids in six provinces, spanning 30 different locations, including the home of Deputy National Police Chief Surachate Hakparn in Bangkok.

The police chief has so far denied any involvement in the illegal operation

Surachate regularly engages with the media to provide investigative updates and also has links to various key political figures. The police chief has so far denied any involvement in the illegal operation and noted that the authorities found no evidence at his home. Reporters turned up at his residence during the raid and he told them that he has no concerns at all about the situation.

The 52-year-old believes that internal police force rivalries could be to blame for the situation. The raid at Surachate’s home took place only days before a new police chief was due to be chosen, with Surachate reportedly in the running.

Thailand has very strict gambling laws, with most types of betting illegal. The authorities have pushed hard to take down foreign illicit online platforms.

The Laos-based “Betflix” gambling platform was the main focus of the operation, along with a dozen subsidiarity websites. The illegal network allegedly handled ?1bn (US$27.7m). Investigators issued 23 arrest warrants, eight of which are for police officers.