Samut Prakan —
On July 3rd, 2024, Pol. Maj. Gen. Theeradech Thamsuthee, the Metropolitan Police Investigation Commander, announced that at 6:00 AM on July 2nd, 2024, over 100 officers from the Bang Na Police Station and related agencies launched Operation “Crackdown on Influential Criminals” in Mueang, Samut Prakan.
Thai authorities arrested 26-year-old Danai Bangkha, wanted under a Phra Khanong Criminal Court warrant, for conspiracy to commit a crime with five or more people, premeditated murder, and other felony offenses related to a shooting incident on Lasalle-Bearing Road in Bang Na, Bangkok on June 29, at 3:00 AM. It was reported that the group of assailants chased and shot Mr. Jesada Wiriya, resulting in his death.
CCTV footage near the crime scene revealed up to 23 individuals involved. The investigation also uncovered that this gang orchestrated multiple additional crimes involving technical college student disputes in Bangkok. Local residents, intimidated by threats from the gang’s lawyer, were reluctant to provide CCTV footage, fearing their residents would be burned if they cooperated with the police.
With court-issued search warrants, more than 100 officers raided five locations in Samrong Nua Subdistrict, Mueang District, Samut Prakan, discovering 38 firearms, over 800 rounds of ammunition, 127,000 baht in cash, illegal military equipment, and other valuable assets.
Bang Na investigators and associated officers tracked the suspects to a gang operating near Soi Wat Dan Samrong. This gang had been involved in at least ten incidents in Samut Prakan over the past year, including murder, assault, illegal loan, and trespassing.
Subsequent investigations identified the gang leaders only as Mr. Phet and Mr. Pipe, former technical college students in Banthat Thong, Bangkok, who were also allegedly involved in many shady businesses.
This article originally appeared on our sister website The Pattaya News.