Two Lao men have been arrested in Bokeo province over the armed robbery of a gold shop in Chiang Rai earlier this month, with Thai and Lao authorities preparing to extradite them to Thailand.
The pair are accused of taking 184 baht weight of gold ornaments from a shopping-mall gold shop on August 4 before escaping across the Mekong River to Laos. Thai police had obtained arrest warrants from Thoeng Provincial Court.
Lao police identified the suspects as Somchai, 32, from Houayxay district, and Ai, 31, a boat skipper based in Houayxay town. A handgun was seized, while Ai has been charged as an accomplice, according to the report.
Extradition preparations under way
Authorities in Laos are examining the recovered weapon and searching for the stolen gold before coordinating the men's extradition to Thailand.
Picture courtesy of TNR
Chiang Khong police station said it had gathered evidence identifying the alleged offenders and secured warrants from Thoeng Provincial Court. Officers then worked with the Bokeo Provincial Police Command, with the cross-border cooperation said to have led to mounting pressure and the arrests.
Robbery and escape took 10 minutes
The robbery took place in daylight at a gold shop inside a shopping mall. Police said both suspects were armed with 9mm handguns, with one wearing a face mask and the other leaving his face uncovered.
They arrived by motorcycle, parked it and entered the shop, where they scooped up the gold ornaments and placed them in a shoulder bag before fleeing.
The suspects then travelled to a Mekong River boat dock only 200 metres from the shopping mall and quickly crossed to the Lao side. From the start of the robbery to their escape, the operation took around 10 minutes.
The recovery of the stolen gold remains under way. The two men are expected to face charges in Thailand once Lao authorities complete the necessary coordination for their handover.
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21 August 2026
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