Police arrest four in motorcycle theft ring supplying stolen bikes to neighbouring country
Police arrested four members of a motorcycle theft gang allegedly supplying stolen bikes from Thailand to neighbouring countries.
The group reportedly stole motorbikes in Bangkok before smuggling them through Thailand's porous borders.
Police arranged a sting following reports of a spate of nighttime motorcycle thefts in the city in recent weeks.
They identified and contacted the suspects before arranging a handover at a Shell station in the Huai Khwang district on August 26.
The men, Wanatphong Sukmee, 24, Saharat Phongsamphakdee, 21, and van drivers Densak Khamsalika, 41, and Atsanai Jamchuea, 42, then arrived in two vans loaded with stolen motorcycles.
Footage shows police cornering the gang members near the station forecourt, with numerous two-wheelers inside the vans.
Wanatphong and Saharat were charged with 'theft at night using a vehicle'. Wanatphong, who is believed to be the ringleader, was additionally charged with receiving stolen goods.
The two van drivers were also detained.
Officers seized two white Toyota Commuter vans and six Honda Wave motorcycles, including three bikes without registration plates while two of the licence plates had been reported missing.
Police Major General Kiattikul Sonthinen, commander of Metropolitan Police Division 2, said the suspects allegedly operated on orders from bosses in a neighbouring country.
He said: 'They confessed to receiving around 23,000 to 25,000 baht for each motorcycle, while van drivers were paid 2,500 baht per bike.
'Each van could carry four stolen motorcycles, generating about 10,000 baht per trip. They would target motorcycles that were easy to steal, hot-wire them, change clothes and use the stolen bikes to conceal their identities.
'They would then contact their boss, who would arrange for a van to collect them near the border in the northeastern region.'
Wanatphong claimed he had stolen more than 100 motorcycles across Greater Bangkok over seven months.
Police are now working to trace more stolen motorcycles and contact their owners.
They said a Laotian national known as Jimmy allegedly coordinated the operation from Laos.
