CHIANG RAI: Drug trafficking organisations driven by revenge were likely behind the shooting of the Hmong Club leader in Thailand and his family on Tuesday, investigators say.
The attackers killed his wife Maiyia Wongnapapaisal, 40, and five-year-old daughter Thanyaporn Yodmaneebanphot at the scene of the crime, while Hmong chief Thaweesak Yodmaneebanphot, 54, and his three-year-old son Chaimongkol Yodmaneebanphot were severely wounded.
They are now receiving medical treatment at a Chiang Mai hospital.
The ambush took place on Ban Rom Fa Thong-Ban Pha Tang Road in Ban Rom Fa Thong village in tambon Por of Wiang Kaen district, Chiang Rai.
Police responders found the family's silver Toyota pickup truck registered in Chiang Rai with licence plate number Phor Khor 4115. There were several bullet holes in the windshield, as well as both sides and the back of the vehicle.
The ambush took place on a curve of the road passing through forested mountainous terrain. Police believed the family were on their way home.
Pol Lt Gen Poonsap Prasertsak, commissioner of the Provincial Police Region 5, said yesterday the investigation into the ambush of Mr Thaweesak's family has made progress.
"Investigators have looked into drug network connections as Mr Thaweesak has worked with authorities to help prevent and suppress drugs trafficking over the past years in Wiang Kaen district," he said.
"His cooperation has led us to arrest drug dealers and seize their supply several times, causing a lot of damage in their networks. This may have prompted some unhappy drug dealers to take revenge against him.''
He cited two recent drug cases that may be connected to the shooting of Mr Thaweesak's family.
On April 2, authorities seized 9.4 million speed pills and 788kg of crystal methamphetamine pills, or ice, worth about 1.7 billion baht in Chiang Rai's Wiang Kaen district.
Later on April 11, 260kg of ice was seized in Chiang Kham district of Phayao. Six suspects were arrested from the two incidents, he said.
Pol Lt Gen Poonsap said the investigation is still under way to identify which drug network may have been behind the shooting.
He said Mr Thaweesak has offered useful information to police.
Pol Lt Gen Poonsap spoke yesterday after a three-hour-long meeting with investigators at the Chiang Rai Provincial Police Headquarters to hear updated findings.