BANGKOK — Vehicles stolen from the U.K. and brought into Thailand 7-8 years ago have been handed over by Thailand to return to their owners through the British National Crime Agency (NCA). 30 cars have been returned, but 5 more are still being tracked by the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) officers. These are:
- Audi Q7 S Line, gray, chassis number WAUZZZ4M4HD026469
- BMW M4, bronze, chassis number WBS3R92030K344987
- Ferrari, white, chassis number ZFF79AMC000219631
- Porsche Boxster 718, yellow, chassis number WP0ZZZ98ZHS211836
- LAND ROVER Range Rover Sport, black, chassis number SALWA2EE8HA132932
The DSI is requesting that anyone in possession of these 5 vehicles check their cars. If found to be one of the listed vehicles, please contact the DSI immediately at hotline 1202.
Regarding this investigation, the DSI stated that they received a request for Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) from the U.K. through the Attorney General’s Office to investigate a group of individuals who had stolen luxury cars from England and illegally imported them into Thailand between 2016 and 2017.
The group of offenders, led by Mr. Intrasak or “Boy Unity,” along with Thai and foreign accomplices, leased luxury cars from various companies in the U.K. They falsely declared to British customs officials that these were new cars to export them by air from Heathrow Airport in London to Singapore, and then by sea into Thailand.
There were 35 cars in total, from 13 brands, all expensive vehicles worth nearly 3 million pounds sterling or over 100 million Thai baht. The NCA discovered this operation and coordinated with the DSI to investigate and prosecute this group and recover the stolen vehicles.
The Thai Attorney General, noting that part of the crime occurred outside the kingdom, assigned the DSI Director-General as the responsible investigating officer and appointed a special case prosecutor to join the investigation.
Police Lieutenant Colonel Payao Thongsen, Deputy Director-General of the DSI and head of the special case investigation team, found that the stolen vehicles were successfully imported into Thailand using three related companies as importers. They presented documents and paid taxes to the Customs Department to make the cars appear legal and able to be registered with the Department of Land Transport. The cars were then sold to the general public in Thailand.
On May 18, 2017, the DSI launched “Operation Titanium” with NCA observers present. Search warrants were executed at 9 suspicious locations in Bangkok, resulting in the recovery of 30 cars, including: 5 BMW M4s, 1 Ford Mustang, 1 Honda GT Type-R, 1 Lamborghini Huracan Spyder, 1 Lexus, 8 Mercedes Benz, 1 Mini Cooper, 3 Nissan GTRs, 5 Porsches, 2 Land Rovers, and 2 Volkswagen GTIs.
At a DSI press conference on July 19, all 30 cars were displayed in the central hall in front of the DSI building on Chaeng Watthana Road. Tawee Sodsong, Minister of Justice, DSI officials, and prosecutors led Mr. Mark Gooding, British Ambassador to Thailand, and Mr. Duncan Burrage, NCA International Liaison Officer in Bangkok, to inspect all the vehicles.
Thai officials also reported that the investigation has concluded, with legal proceedings initiated against Mr. Intrasak and 12 others on multiple charges, including theft by two or more persons, receiving stolen property for profit, and participating in a transnational criminal organization. After the Attorney General reviewed the investigation file, an order was issued to manage the 30 confiscated vehicles.
“The success in this matter is the result of coordination with all sectors, including the Department of Special Investigation, the Office of the Attorney General, the British Embassy in Thailand, and the NCA, demonstrating sincerity and seriousness in solving problems according to government policy,” the Minister of Justice stated.
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