Armed Debt Collectors Intimidate Noodle Shop Owner

A noodle shop owner is living in fear after a group of armed men forced him to withdraw a complaint against illegal loan sharks who had lent money to two of his employees. On September 6, at around 9 a.m., roughly 13 men—three without helmets and 10 wearing motorcycle helmets—arrived on motorcycles and blocked the shop entrance on Ratsadamnoen Road between Soi 38 and 40. They verbally threatened a staff member preparing food, demanding the withdrawal of the police report and warning they would return if he refused. The intimidation caused customers inside to flee in fear.

Shop owner Ranakorn, 39, revealed he witnessed the entire incident through security cameras. His employees had taken out an illegal loan of 5,000 baht that had ballooned to over 9,000 baht with interest. Although he negotiated payment terms, the gang pursued the staff relentlessly, forcing one to file a report at Bukkhalo Police Station. When the gang learned of the complaint, they returned the same day. At 5 p.m., the gang leader known as "Tiger" and an accomplice came to negotiate, with the accomplice deliberately revealing a firearm while falsely claiming to be a police officer.

Ranakorn documented the incident at Ratsadamnoen Police Station as a record, citing threats, harassment, and invasion of his business. He expressed concern that one gang member impersonated police, raising doubts about his safety. However, during the complaint process, investigating officers displayed suspicious behavior that suggested possible connections to the loan shark gang.