3 men held for kidnapping, and impersonating drug cops

3 men held for kidnapping, and impersonating drug cops

Three men have been arrested for allegedly posing as Narcotics Control Board officials and holding people for ransom in Songkhla.

Police apprehended Chaovarin Kultharo, 29, Danai Prakij, 29, and Supparit Kaewpradab, 24, in downtown Hat Yai yesterday.

The gang, led by Mr Chaovarin, who is the son of a senior policeman in Pathum Thani, was arrested for allegedly detaining Thanu Muangla-ong, 40, in a resort and demanding a 100,000 baht ransom from his family.

Undercover police worked with Mr Thanu's family and bargained down the ransom to 30,000 baht.

The family made an appointment to hand over the money to the gang near a restaurant on Rat-uthit road. The suspects were arrested as they were collecting the money.

Police said the gang pretended to be NCB officials and picked their victims mostly from people with a history in drug dealing.

The victims would be held for ransom and most of them believed the gang were real officials. They would pay the money and, fearing for their lives, keep quiet about it.

Police said the gang has successfully claimed ransoms from 20 victims. Each victim paid them 100,000 baht.

Police seized an illegal .45 gun, some cartridges, 29,900 baht in cash, bullet-proof vests, two fake police identification cards, paraphernalia for smoking crystal methamphetamine and photocopies of a senior police officer's ID card.

The three suspects face multiple charges including forceful detention of others to obtain ransom and posing as state officials.

They have been remanded in the custody of local police.

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