A South Korean man, identified only as Mr. G, who was the notorious operator of illegal online gambling websites, has been extradited from Thailand and charged by prosecutors. He was charged with establishing and running seven illicit gambling sites from October 2019 to October 2023, utilizing over 110 accounts to reportedly receive close to 590 billion won (approximately $442 million). His operations came to light after police received a tip-off in March 2023, leading to a crackdown that initially apprehended nine members of his syndicate. However, Mr. G managed to flee overseas until his arrest by Thai authorities on immigration offenses in late 2024.

The lawsuit reveals the extent of his operations, where he and 43 accomplices, including website operators and users, were involved in sophisticated evasive strategies that included using secure messaging apps like Telegram for communication and frequently changing their office locations to avoid detection by law enforcement. The police seized approximately 1.017 billion won (about $760,000) in cash and placed a pre-emptive freeze on assets amounting to around 1.64 billion won (around $1.2 million) before the indictment.

The Seoul Cyber Investigation Unit of the police has emphasized its commitment to strengthening information gathering on cyber gambling offenses and pursuing any individuals involved in such crimes who attempt to evade justice by fleeing to other countries. This case highlights the challenges faced by law enforcement when dealing with transnational cyber crimes, as well as the need for greater international cooperation in combating illegal online gambling activities.