Police arrested the men at a petrol station in Cherng Talay at 4pm yesterday (May 21).
Region 8 Police Investigator Lt Col Kraison Chomchuen led the joint operation with Thalang and Cherng Thalay Police that that netted the three suspects, named by police as Thongchai Kadthong, 30, from Surat Thani, and Ithipon Krinara, 32, and Pathompong Ratthanasuwan, 51, both from Nakhon Sri Thammarat.
The officers arrived at the petrol station after a friend of the two teenagers – named by police only as “Mr A” and “Mr Wan”, but ages not disclosed – told them that’s where the ransom was to be dropped off.
Mr A and Mr Wan were drinking kratom at a place at Soi Palai in Chalong at about midday, Col Kraison reported.
But their teen party was broken up when the three men arrived, saying they were officers from Region 8 Police.
The men placed Mr A and Mr Wan under “arrest” and took them to bungalow on Sakdidet Rd, Col Kraison added.
They then had Mr A and Mr Wan call their close relatives and tell them to pay B60,000 ransom – or the two teens would would be charged for taking drugs.
A close friend called back the kidnappers and managed to talk the ransom down to B50,000 and was given a location of where to make the drop-off – the petrol station in Cherng Talay, Col Kraisorn explained.
The same “friend” also called Region 8 Police to inform them of what had happened – and at the same time confirmed that three kidnappers were not Region 8 Police.
All three kidnappers were taken to Thalang Police Station for “further questioning”, Col Kraisorn confirmed.
The two teenagers Mr A and Mr Wan, however, were still charged for their confessions of possessing and using kratom.