Police have arrested a gang of hired gunmen, alleged to be responsible for more than 30 serious crimes in Thailand’s southern province of Surat Thani, including the recent killing of a member of the Tambon (sub-district) Administrative Organisation (TAO) in Phra Saeng district.

Pol Lt-Gen Jirabhop Bhuridej, commissioner of Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), told the media today (Saturday) that five members of the gang, including the alleged leader, Aekkachai Maharaj, have been arrested since late January.

Three handguns, suspected to have been used in the commission of crimes, have been confiscated.

All five have been charged with premediated murder, illegal possession and use of firearms. They allegedly confessed to the charges, claiming that they simply carried out the jobs they were hired to do.

The CIB commissioner said that Aekkachai has been in and out of prison for various crimes, adding that he allegedly teamed up with four other gunmen to form a gang of contract killers with Aekkachai as the leader.

The gang divided the responsibilities, with Aekkachai allegedly receiving the “contracts” and carrying out the hits, one acting as a lookout, one pointing identifying the target and another arranging for getaway cars.