The fugitive tycoon, who allegedly operated a major illegal gambling den, thought to be the source of a large cluster of COVID-19 infections in Thailand’s Rayong province, was arrested by police Thursday morning in Muang district of the province.

Armed with a court issued search warrant and led by Pol Lt-Gen Roy Inkhapairote, assistant national police chief, police searched a large house, surrounded by high walls, in Soi Ratsamakhi in Noen Phra sub-district.

Somchai Chutikidecha, alias Longchu Somchai, was found in the house. He is suspected of involvement in the running of several illegal gambling dens in eastern provinces.

The COVID-19 infection connected to the gambling den in Rayong is thought to have led to hundreds of people in Rayong, Chanthaburi, Chon Buri and Trat provinces contracting the disease, resulting in a preventative lockdown of Rayong.

Following a raid on the illegal den in Rayong, Somchai went into hiding and had not been heard from until his arrest today.

A press conference is scheduled for noon today at the Royal Thai Police HQ.