Luxury cars that had been stolen from Malaysia were sold cheaper than market prices in Thailand, national police chief Somyot Poompanmoung said on Thursday.
Thai police chief Somyot Poompanmoung, left, returns luxury cars to his Malaysian counterpart Tan Sri Dato Sri Khalid Bin Abu Bakar at the Royal Thai Police Office in Bangkok on Thursday. (Photo by Somchai Poomlard)
Pol Gen Somyot ceremonially turned over the 20 luxury cars to Tan Sri Dato Sri Khalid Bin Abu Bakar, inspector-general of Royal Malaysia Police, who was paying an official visit. The cars will reach their original owners later.
The Thai police chief said the vehicles had been stolen and declared missing in Malaysia. Some had been driven to southern Thai border provinces by "tourists" and others were transported by sea.
He said thieves filled orders placed by customers or influential persons brought them in the country to sell at prices lower than market value. Thai police prosecuted several suspects involved in importing the cars without paying tariffs.
The return of the vehicles showed that Thai and Malaysian police were cooperating, Pol Gen Somyot said. Both sides are exchanging information on all crimes and he intends to develop such collaboration with police in other Southeast Asian nations.
Pol Lt Gen Prawut Thawornsiri, spokesman of the Royal Thai Police Office, said the two top police officials also discussed joint crime-suppression efforts in border areas adjacent to each other's country.