Crime Suppression Division (CSD) police arrested four suspected kidnappers in coordinated raids on eight locations in Yala, Narathiwat and Khon Kaen provinces today (Sunday).
Under the supervision of Pol Maj-Gen Montri Thetkhan, the CSD commander, police laid siege to a house on Pracha Vivat Road, in Su-ngai Kolok district of Narathiwat, at dawn today, before they forced their way into the house to arrest the owner, identified as Andy Mana.
In another raid, in neighbouring Yala province, police apprehended the second suspect, Abdulroning Sareh. The third and fourth suspects, who were not identified, were arrested at two other locations in Yala and Khon Kaen provinces.
CSD police allege that Andy Mana and Abdulroning Sareh were involved in a kidnap gang, which took orders from drug trafficking financiers to abduct people who owe them money, adding that gang members often resort to torturing their victims to force them to get their relatives to pay a ransom.
Most gang members are former paramilitary rangers or defence volunteers.
The police cited a kidnapping on September 9th last year, when gang members abducted a “Mr. Ji” from a house in Ra-ngae district of Narathiwat and kept him at a rented house where he was tortured.
Then the kidnappers called the victim’s relatives, demanding that they pay 500,000 baht in exchange for his release. The relatives agreed to pay 300,000 baht in advance and managed to secure his release.
The kidnappers called the relatives again, to demand the balance of 200,000 baht, prompting them to file a complaint with Ra-ngae district police and, eventually, an investigation was opened by the CSD.
