Ayutthaya police have expanded their investigation into a scammer network that was transporting large quantities of equipment from the Cambodian border toward the Myanmar border. Officers seized 1,171 mobile phones, over 3,000 SIM cards, 4 laptops, and numerous signal-relay devices.

On July 13, 2569, at Ayutthaya Provincial Police headquarters, Pol. Col. Surwut Saengrungreuang, commander of Ayutthaya Provincial Police, Deputy Governor Praphan Treebubpha, and related agencies announced the arrest and seizure of equipment: 1,171 mobile phones, over 3,000 SIM cards, 4 laptops, and numerous signal-relay devices.

Pol. Col. Surwut revealed that this arrest resulted from an expanded investigation following the capture of five foreign scammers on July 8 in Bang Pahan District. Intelligence indicated the network was urgently relocating equipment and relocating its base of operations from Sa Kaew Province through Ayutthaya Province toward Mae Sot District in Tak Province.

On July 12, officers set up a checkpoint under an overpass on Asia Road at kilometer 18 in Khlong Suan Phlu Subdistrict, Ayutthaya District, and arrested a 52-year-old driver named Rungrot. A search of the vehicle revealed multiple suitcases containing 1,171 mobile phones, over 3,000 SIM cards, 4 laptops, and numerous signal-relay devices.

"If all this equipment had reached the border and been used by call-center gangs, it would have caused widespread damage to the public and the broader economy," Pol. Col. Surwut stated. "We have coordinated with IT specialists to examine all data in the phones and SIM cards and are pursuing leaders and network members for prosecution under the law."

The suspect has been charged and transferred for prosecution, with police continuing to track down other network members.

On July 13 at 20:20, at the Police Hospital's Institute of Forensic Medicine, the family of Aphinan Pengsri, 33, from Chaiyaphum province—one of the victims of the Ladprao entertainment venue fire—came to collect his body for religious funeral rites at his hometown. The atmosphere was one of deep sorrow, and family members were unavailable for media comment as they struggled to accept the loss.

The family revealed that Aphinan was the family's main breadwinner and had a partner, Napas Oonwon, who also suffered severe injuries in the same fire. Napas was burned over nearly his entire body and remains hospitalized. Doctors assess that he may be unable to return to regular work at his clinic long-term, burdening the family with substantial medical expenses.

The family also disclosed their difficult financial situation: the father is bedridden and the mother cares for several young children. They are seeking assistance from relevant agencies and demanding fair compensation and appropriate remedies for the incident.

After receiving the body, the family transported Aphinan to their home in Bang Chiang Subdistrict, Pakkadi Chumphon District, Chaiyaphum, for religious funeral rites. Later at 20:30, relatives of Charoen Lakinok, 27, a factory worker from the Bangpu Industrial Estate who also died in the fire, collected his body and transported it to Sai Thong Temple in Tham Maphwan Subdistrict, Kaeng Khoi District, Chaiyaphum, for religious ceremonies.

On July 13, 2025, police officers led by Maj. Gen. Pattanasak Bubphasuwann arrested Vachirawut, alias "Champ," 30, at an auto repair shop in Samut Prakan. He was wanted under criminal court warrant No. 375/2560 issued on October 19, 2017, on charges of joint possession and distribution of Class 1 narcotics including methamphetamine and crystal meth, and conspiracy in drug-related crimes.

The arrest stems from an August 9, 2017 operation when police apprehended two suspects and seized 140,000 methamphetamine pills, 9.2 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine, and 6 kilograms of ketamine valued at over 30 million baht. Further investigation led to the arrest of two additional suspects and recovery of drugs worth 62 million baht. Police determined that Vachirawut had hired couriers to transport the narcotics, paying 200,000 baht per trip.

During interrogation, Vachirawut confessed to hiring smugglers to transport drugs three to four times previously, each shipment containing approximately one million pills from northern Thailand to Ayutthaya and Samut Prakan provinces. He had evaded authorities for nearly a decade before his capture. He is now in police custody pending prosecution.

The Department of Health's Office of Narcotics Control and Treatment has launched a project to promote drug prevention and treatment efforts in Bangkok, aiming to mobilize public participation and engage relevant agencies in tackling drug problems. An event called 'Bangkok United Against Drugs' will be held on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, at the Prince Palace Hotel in Pom Prap Sattru Phai district. The Metropolitan Police Bureau has been tasked with selecting three police stations with outstanding drug prevention performance and three with outstanding drug suppression performance to receive trophies as recognition and encouragement.

The Metropolitan Police Bureau directed regional commanders to nominate police stations with exceptional drug prevention and suppression achievements for committee review. Selected stations will receive honorary trophies, with their best practices shared to benefit other agencies. On Monday, July 13, 2026, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Siam Bunsam assigned Deputy Commissioner Theeradej Thammsutheep to lead the selection process, which included senior officers from various divisions evaluating outstanding work according to Metropolitan Police and Department of Health criteria.

Results for Outstanding Drug Prevention (2568): 1st place: Radborn Police Station led by Wachrapol Suwananthavongse (25 points); 2nd place: Phra Khanong Police Station led by Chaiwat Pradthai (21 points); 3rd place: Makkasan Police Station led by Uramporn Khundetsamrit (20 points).

Results for Outstanding Drug Suppression (2568): 1st place: Petchkasem Police Station led by Pramote Chanbunkaew (26 points); 2nd place: Minburi Police Station led by Somphot Thongmoon (25 points); 3rd place: Makkasan and Phra Khanong Police Stations led by Uramporn Khundetsamrit and Chaiwat Pradthai respectively (11 points).

Selected police stations will be presented with trophies and commendations to motivate officers in narcotics work and encourage them to continue implementing quality drug prevention and suppression programs in their communities.

At 7 p.m. on July 13, 2025, the family of Senior Sergeant Pemika On-sri, 24, a civil police officer assigned to the Government House, gathered at the Police Institute of Forensic Medicine to receive her body. The tragedy occurred at a beer bar in Ladprao. Grieving family members were unable to provide details at the time. They arranged to take her body to her birthplace in Santhraiyngam Subdistrict, Thung District, Chiang Rai Province.

Family members lit incense as officials transferred her body into a coffin and loaded it onto an emergency vehicle. Relatives tapped the coffin to bid her farewell and wept as the convoy departed for Thung District. Three fellow civil police officers came to pay their final respects, mourning the loss of their colleague who had only recently been promoted. She died in the same incident as another officer, Senior Sergeant Sitthichoke.