Police have cracked down on a loan-shark network in Chiang Rai and seized 200 million baht.
Officers said at least 30,000 people had been targeted by the gang and that more warrants will be issued.
National police chief Suwat Jangyodsuk said yesterday that officers raided the illegal lending network and arrested 10 people who were issuing loans and overseeing forced debt repayments.
Pol Gen Jangyodsuk said the Economic Crime Suppression Division’s Subdivision 5 had been investigating illegal lenders and found lending applications titled “Consumer Finance” and “Mini Loans”.
These applications charged high interest to debtors and also conducted unlawful actions against the debtors in order to collect repayment.
Assistant police chief Pol Gen Piya Uthayo said one suspect confessed he had issued loans to 30,000 debtors nationwide and hired over 100 “workers” to force repayment from up to 3,500 debtors per day.
These workers were given forced repayment instructions to collect the debts, but the assistant police chief did not elaborate on the methods.
Pol Gen Uthayo said 60 of their accounts had been frozen, containing over 200 million baht.
Meanwhile, in Bangkok, a gold shop owner was found selling weapons using social media yesterday.
Pol Maj Gen Suwat Sangnum, commander of the Crime Suppression Division, led more than 20 officers to the gold shop in Nongkham district and arrested Anapat Rujipat, 43, who owned the shop and traded weapons.
Inside his building, a large cache of 35 pistols, one M16 rifle, one CMMG rifle, another rifle and five shotguns were found. Police said Mr Rujipat admitted they were his.
