Cyber police arrest Malaysian UFA executive Lim Teck Wee, 48, and seize ฿16 million in cash. Investigators uncover more than 20 gambling sites, pirate football streams, nominee accounts and cryptocurrency transfers in a widening crackdown.
Thai cybercrime police have arrested Malaysian businessman Lim Teck Wee, 48, identified as a Master Agent in the UFA gambling network. Officers seized ฿16 million in cash as a major investigation widened into more than 20 UFA-linked gambling websites. The probe has also uncovered illegal international football streams, nominee accounts and money converted into cryptocurrency. Investigators say LiveScoreThai was used to promote gambling while carrying football broadcasts without copyright permission. Lim now faces electronic gambling, conspiracy and money-laundering charges as police pursue others across the network.
Thai cybercrime police have arrested a Malaysian businessman identified as a high-ranking executive in the UFA online gambling network. Officers seized ฿16 million in cash and financial evidence during the operation. Lim Teck Wee, 48, was identified as a Master Agent for the UFA network in Thailand. Investigators also linked the wider operation to LiveScoreThai, a popular football website used to promote gambling.
The arrest marks another stage in a widening Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau investigation. Police have targeted illegal football streaming, online gambling and suspected money laundering. Notably, investigators uncovered more than 20 UFA-affiliated gambling websites during an earlier operation. They later traced nominee accounts, complex transfers and the conversion of money into cryptocurrency.
Pol. Maj. Gen. Chananat Sarathavalyaep, Commander of the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau, ordered the latest operation. Pol. Col. Chisnupong Waiydee, Superintendent of Division 3, led the arrest team. Separately, four senior Division 3 investigators participated in the operation against Lim.
Police seize ฿16 million as UFA Master Agent faces gambling and money laundering charges in Bangkok
They included Pol. Lt. Col. Pakchat Sanguanwaew and Pol. Lt. Col. Pradit Suwannadee. Pol. Lt. Col. Prateep Chanphetburi and Pol. Lt. Col. Navapol Pattaniboon also joined the operation. Together, the team moved against Lim after investigators established his suspected position within the UFA network.
UFA is an online gambling network connecting individual betting websites to a wider gambling system. It provides football betting, casino games and slots. Moreover, its structure includes agents and higher-level Master Agents linking operators to the network.
A Master Agent holds a senior role within that structure. In Lim’s case, police said he recruited clients and connected websites to UFA. Additionally, he converted money into cryptocurrency for gambling operators. His suspected role therefore spans both gambling operations and financial transactions.
Lim was wanted under Criminal Court arrest warrant No. 5213/2569, issued on September 1, 2026. The warrant covers jointly organising electronic gambling, conspiracy to launder money and money laundering. During the operation, officers seized ฿16 million in cash. They also confiscated six mobile phones, bank passbooks, ATM cards and a money-counting machine.
The case began with an earlier crackdown known as “Operation VAR”. Initially, cybercrime officers targeted the illegal website soodaza. The site posted links allowing users to watch live broadcasts of international football matches. Police said those streams infringed the broadcasting rights covering the matches.
UFAMaster probe uncovers nominee accounts, cryptocurrency laundering and illegal football streaming
At the same time, investigators found another business operating around the football content. Soodaza carried advertisements for more than 20 online gambling websites affiliated with UFA. As a result, football viewers could be directed towards gambling platforms while accessing the unauthorised streams. Operation VAR subsequently resulted in four arrests.
Police then followed the links uncovered during those arrests. In turn, the investigation exposed another gambling platform called “UFAMaster”. Investigators described it as a comprehensive gambling operation offering several types of online betting. Its services included foreign football betting, casino games and slots.
Financial inquiries then exposed another layer of the operation. Investigators traced turnover exceeding ฿10 million through the gambling platform. Crucially, police discovered nominee accounts being used to receive and move money. Those accounts were held by both individuals and legal entities.
As part of this, investigators examined how money travelled through the network. Police found funds moving through complex transfers involving multiple nominee accounts. Eventually, money was converted into cryptocurrency. Investigators said the conversion formed part of the network’s money-laundering operation.
On another front, police uncovered the network’s connection with LiveScoreThai. Investigators said gambling websites were secretly promoted through the popular football website. The site was used to advertise gambling operations and attract new players. Meanwhile, police also found unauthorised streaming of international football matches.
The football broadcasts were taken and streamed without permission from copyright holders, according to investigators. In parallel, gambling websites were promoted around the football content. The operation therefore gave UFA-linked gambling sites access to people seeking live international football.
Malaysian UFA Master Agent linked to client recruitment, cryptocurrency exchanges and ฿16 million haul
Further inquiries eventually led investigators to Lim. Police identified the Malaysian businessman as a Master Agent executive within UFA’s operation in Thailand. His position involved bringing gambling website operators into the wider UFA network. Additionally, investigators said Lim handled important financial functions for gambling website owners.
His responsibilities included finding clients and connecting their gambling websites with UFA. He also exchanged money into digital assets for gambling website owners. Specifically, police said those digital assets included cryptocurrency. His suspected financial role therefore became part of the wider money-laundering investigation.
The arrest also produced a substantial cash seizure. Officers recovered ฿16 million alongside banking records, ATM cards and six mobile phones. In addition, they found a machine used for counting money. The material gives investigators further evidence as they trace the network’s financial activities.
Beyond the cash, police are examining the financial structure uncovered during the investigation. Nominee accounts included those belonging to individuals and legal entities. Funds were transferred through several stages before being converted into cryptocurrency. Investigators are now tracing those transactions and the people connected with them.
The investigation has expanded considerably since police first moved against soodaza. At first, the case centred on unauthorised football streams and gambling advertisements. Subsequently, investigators uncovered more than 20 UFA-affiliated gambling websites. Four suspects were arrested before the inquiry moved deeper into the network.
UFAMaster and LiveScoreThai links widen probe into gambling, illegal streams and cryptocurrency transfers
That next stage exposed UFAMaster and its range of gambling products. The platform offered foreign football betting alongside casino games and slots. Moreover, investigators identified turnover exceeding ฿10 million. Financial inquiries then revealed nominee accounts and cryptocurrency conversion.
The LiveScoreThai connection added another dimension. According to police, the website secretly promoted gambling operations while carrying international football streams without permission. Consequently, the investigation connected copyright violations with the promotion of UFA-linked gambling websites.
Lim’s arrest now takes the inquiry further into UFA’s operating structure. Police describe him as a Master Agent rather than simply a gambling customer or website operator. His stated duties included recruiting clients and connecting gambling websites to UFA. He also converted money into cryptocurrency for website owners.
In response, the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau is expanding its investigation beyond Lim. Officers are pursuing other people involved with the network. Investigators are also tracing those connected with gambling websites, nominee accounts and financial transfers. Cryptocurrency transactions remain another focus of the continuing inquiry.
Cybercrime police widen UFA network probe as Lim faces charges while further arrests are prepared
The bureau is also examining the people behind the network’s promotional operations. Those inquiries include the use of LiveScoreThai to attract gamblers. Likewise, investigators continue examining the illegal streaming of international football broadcasts connected with the operation.
For now, Lim faces the charges contained in the Criminal Court warrant. Police have seized ฿16 million, six phones and extensive banking material. The money-counting machine was also taken as evidence. Investigators are now working through those items while mapping the wider network.
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The Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau plans further action as the investigation develops. Officers are preparing to arrest others identified as participants in the operation. Ultimately, police said everyone found involved will be pursued and prosecuted under the law.
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