Thai workers' casino uncovered by Oz Unit

Oz Unit inspectors in south Israel uncovered illegal casino equipment in an apartment inhabited by Thai foreign workers during a routine patrol in Ofakim. Four foreign workers were arrested on Sunday as a result, while the gambling equipment was confiscated.

An Oz Unit team patrolled the southern city of Ofakim on Saturday and having spotted a suspicious apartment visited the scene again on Sunday. They eventually discovered four Thai foreigners, including one woman, in the apartment which contained gambling equipment, knives and substances suspected to be narcotics.

Oz Unit inspectors at the apartment (Photo: Eliad Levy)

A subsequent inquiry revealed that the foreigners would arrive in southern communities every Friday and set up portable gambling stations in the foreign workers' residence. As a result they managed to accumulate a vast body of equipment.

"The apartment belongs to dealers who stepped out to make money and returned," Oz Unit team leader Shay Abouharon told Ynet. "When we asked them what they did for a living they said the casino was their only source of income."

Abouharon further added that strangely Thais don't usually reside in development towns and that it was rare to find such a large amount of equipment in one place.

Oz Unit officials are still undecided as to the course of action in dealing with the Thai offenders.