Five suspects are in police custody for alleged involvement in the murder of four men. Three of the bodies were found in the trunk of a car, partially submerged in a canal in Waeng district of the southern border province of Narathiwat, in February. The fourth body was disposed of in the Su-ngai Kolok River in the same province.

Two handguns, seven rounds of ammunition and two cars,which were used by the gang in committing the offences,were displayed to the media at a press conference today (Monday) at the provincial police office.

Pol Maj-Gen Anurut Im-arb, commander of the Narathiwat provincial police, said that the murders were motivated by a conflict in the illicit drug business. He alleged that three of the five people arrested did the shootings, while the others, including two who are still at large, were allegedly responsible for disposing of the bodies and other evidence.

One of the suspects was identified by police as “Methawat”, aka “Arun”, the younger brother of a well-known entertainer in Narathiwat.