The suspects held two Vietnamese nationals at gunpoint, forcing them to transfer money before police intervened, explained a formal report issued by Phuket City Police Chief Pol Col Pratuang Pholamana.
The incident was classified as a serious and shocking crime in the report, which was copied to all superior officers up the chain of command, up to and including national police chief appointed Pol Gen Thana Chuawong.
The case has been registered as Criminal Case number 232/2568, Pol Col Pratuang confirmed.
The three suspects were identified as Sgt Thongchai Somjai, 43, a resident of Lat Phrao in Bangkok; Chat Mongkol Puangkam, 36, from Lampang Province; and Ghasemi Afshin, 35, an Iranian national.
Of note, while the report of the “serious and shocking crime” gave Sgt Thongchai’s Thai government ID number, the report did not confirm at which police station Sgt Thongchai was stationed at the time of his arrest.
They were apprehended at the scene along with a Volkswagen van, bearing the license plate Nok 2222 from Phra Nakhon Sri Ayutthaya (the full formal name for Ayutthaya), Pol Col Pratuang reported.
The crime began last Friday night (Feb 21), when police were informed that an unidentified group had detained two Vietnamese men inside a van with firearms.
In response, law enforcement officers coordinated efforts to track down the vehicle. By 12:30am on Saturday (Feb 22), officers located the van parked at a hotel on Khaw Sim Bee Rd, which leads from Mae Luan Rd up to the top of the popular hill in Phuket Town.
On arrival, officers from the Phuket City Police and the Phuket Provincial Police confronted the suspects, ordering those outside the van to surrender.
A search of the vehicle led to the discovery of three firearms and ammunition: a Smith & Wesson .22-calibre revolver with six rounds of ammunition; a modified revolver with four rounds; and a modified semi-automatic firearm with four rounds of .38-calibre ammunition.
Sgt Thongchai admitted ownership of the first firearm, but the suspects denied possession of the other two weapons. The three men were immediately taken into custody, Pol Col Pratuang confirmed.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the two Vietnamese victims were engaged in the cannabis trade in Phatthalung Province, Pol Col Pratuang said in his report.
They had met the suspects at the hotel last Thursday (Feb 20) and, after striking up a business relationship, agreed to discuss a potential deal further.
On Friday (Feb 21), the victims accompanied the suspects to a condominium in Chalong. However, once inside the van, the suspects allegedly brandished a firearm and demanded a transfer of B350,000.
After negotiations, the victims managed to reduce the demand to B150,000, which they arranged to be transferred through a third party.
The transfer was set to take place at the Khao Rang Place hotel parking lot, but before the money exchange could be completed, police arrived on the scene, leading to the suspects’ arrest and the safe rescue of the two victims, POl Col Pratuang said.
The suspects have been charged with illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, carrying firearms in public without justification and robbery with a weapon.
They have denied all charges, Pol Col Pratuang noted.
The Phuket Provincial Court has approved their detention and denied temporary release on bail.
Phuket Provincial Police Commander Pol Maj Gen Sinlert Sukhum has assigned Pol Col Kittipong Klaikaew, Deputy Commander of the Phuket Provincial Police, to advise on the investigation guidelines to ensure thoroughness in collecting and searching for evidence, Pol Col Pratuang reported.
Pol Capt Wichit Nokkaew, Inspector at Phuket City Police, and Pol Lt Col Sarawut Chotisuwan, Phuket City Police Deputy Superintendent (Investigation), are overseeing the case, Pol Col Pratuang said.