Bangkok—
At 3:30 AM, on April 8th, 2024, the Thai metropolitan police officers captured six local gang members who allegedly conspired to commit felony crimes including attempting murder, illegally selling firearms, and other offenses, at a residence in Nong Chok, Bangkok.
According to the metropolitan police report, locals filed complaint reports of Nong Chok local gang members who reportedly stirred fear and frustration in locals as they allegedly robbed, murdered, and sold illicit substances and illegal firearms. The gang members were on the wanted list by the local police.
However, the suspects escaped from police pursuit many times and allegedly sent a letter to the police station stating “Catch us if you can.” It was reported that the suspect group only took refuge in the Nong Chok area but was originally from elsewhere.
Upon the police observation, it was determined that the gang planned to commit another crime in the Nong Chak area. The special investigative teams were then stationed on observation locally for more than 36 hours and were able to detect two of the Nong Chok local gang members.
At 3:30 AM, the police captured the two suspects and raided the safe house where other gang members resided. The gang leader, whose name was publicly identified only as Mr. Natthawut, 20, was alerted of the raid from an evident tip and attempted to flee from the police pursuit but was quickly arrested as he reportedly had suffered a broken arm and was unable to flee properly.
The police searched the residence and found nine unregistered firearms and other gang members with a total of six individuals. The suspects ranged from 15 to 21 years old. Many of them allegedly had committed felony crimes including robbery, murder, fraud, and trafficking in firearms, and had previously escaped the arrest of the police countless times, said the police.
According to the police report, the gang was well-known in the gun dealing business and held a record of selling more than 2,000 illegal firearms to customers. It was reported that most of the said firearms were taken by force from local teenagers in the area before being sold on online platforms for 10,000 to 20,000 baht each.
The gang then made appointments to possible buyers in person before allegedly robbing the buyers. There were more than 20 individuals who were being tricked by the schemes and had been robbed ruthlessly, according to the police.
Initially, all the suspects reportedly denied the allegations and any involvement in illegally selling unregistered firearms before being escorted to the Nong Chok police station for further legal processing.
The full names of those arrested were withheld by police due to many being juveniles and due to further investigation into the gang’s activities.
