Police have arrested six suspects who allegedly robbed a local official and five defence volunteers of their service pistols, about 20,000 methamphetamine pills and a car in Rattaphum district of Songkhla Province last week.

The suspects also tried, unsuccessfully, to free a group of drug suspects, who had previously been arrested.

The daring attack took place on October 18th, when an assistant district chief officer and five volunteers led a group of drug suspects to a village in Kamphaeng Phet sub-district for searches for illicit drugs.

They were, however, attacked by seven men, who managed to steal their pistols, the seized drug haul, four mobile phones and a car.

Some of the drug suspects claimed that the local officials had demanded an unspecified amount of ransom in exchange for their freedom.

Pol Gen Damrongsak Kittipraphat has vowed to take tough action against any officials involved in the demand for aransom from the suspects as alleged.

The seventh suspect is still at large.