Crime Security Guard Killed as Gang Steals E-Cigarettes from Khlong Toei Port

[Georgealbert]

 

Picture courtesy of Khaosod.

 

A security guard was killed in the early hours of 1 June, after a gang of thieves rammed their van into pursuing guards while fleeing the scene of a robbery at Khlong Toei Port. The gang had reportedly stolen e-cigarettes from a customs container stored at the Port Authority’s Stadium warehouse.

 

The incident occurred at approximately 01:40 on Kasemrat Road in the Khlong Toei district of Bangkok. Officers from Thungmahamek Police Station, forensic specialists, a pathologist from Chulalongkorn Forensic Hospital and volunteers from the Ruamkatanyu Foundation responded to the scene.

 

There, they discovered the body of 58-year-old security guard Mr Boonnak Sawatsuk, who had sustained fatal injuries to his head. He was found lying unresponsive near his damaged Honda Wave motorcycle, which had been struck with considerable force. A grey pickup truck nearby had also suffered damage.

 

Witnesses reported that a suspicious white van carrying five men had entered the warehouse premises and begun tampering with a shipping container that had previously been seized by customs officers and was believed to contain e-cigarettes and liquid cartridges. Security personnel on duty attempted to intercept the gang, prompting the suspects to flee.

 

Several guards pursued the van on motorbikes. During the chase, the van reversed aggressively and struck Mr Boonnak’s motorcycle, killing him instantly. The van then collided with a parked pickup truck before speeding away toward the Na Ranong five-way junction.

 

Further investigation has revealed that the warehouse gates, usually kept shut, had been left open due to a futsal match taking place earlier that evening. This may have provided the gang with an opportunity to infiltrate the facility.

 

Mr Montri Doktoi, the head of security on duty that night, expressed sorrow over the loss of his colleague and raised concerns about how the gang knew which container held the valuable items. “Even I didn’t know that there were e-cigarettes inside,” he said. “It’s suspicious. It might have been an inside job.”

 

A local volunteer, Mr Somchai Janphet, who lives near the warehouse, also played a role in the response. He had received a tip-off from a good Samaritan sleeping in a car near the site, who reported hearing suspicious activity. Mr Somchai helped alert guards and attempted to secure the exits. He later observed the van attempting to flee and managed to photograph its licence plate before the fatal collision occurred.

 

According to his account, the van’s driver initially tried to explain away their presence by claiming they were just sleeping in the vehicle. However, a flashlight search revealed a brown cardboard box later confirmed to contain stolen e-cigarettes. As security personnel surrounded the van, the suspects made their escape. Two gang members jumped out to open the gate while the van reversed at speed, running over Mr Boonnak and hitting a passing vehicle. The van then fled the scene, leaving two accomplices behind to escape on foot.

 

As of the afternoon of 1 June, police have confirmed the arrest of one of the suspects, identified as “Bird Rong-Mai”, who was allegedly seen inside the van during the robbery. Authorities are continuing their investigation and have pledged to bring all those involved to justice.

 

Police believe the theft was planned with insider knowledge, given the gang’s apparent awareness of the contents of a specific container among many stored at the site.

 

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Khaosod 2025-06-02.

 

 

 

[Georgealbert]

UPDATE
Five Suspects Arrested in E-Cigarette Heist That Left Security Guard Dead

 

Picture courtesy of Amarin.

 

Five suspects involved in a daring heist that led to the death of a security guard have now been apprehended, while the alleged ringleader, known as “Bank,” remains on the run.

 

The incident occurred in the early hours of 31 May, when a group of armed men in a van stormed a warehouse under the Port Authority of Thailand, which was being used by the Customs Department to store seized e-cigarettes. The thieves cut into a shipping container and attempted to make off with the contraband. As they fled the scene, the gang reversed their vehicle into a security guard who had tried to intercept them, killing him instantly.

 

Following a thorough investigation, arrest warrants were issued for six suspects. Police have since taken five of them into custody: Bird, Ek, King, Ji, and Lek. Four were initially arrested, with Lek captured later on 2 June and brought to Tha Ruea Police Station for questioning.

 

The prime suspect, identified as Sithisak or “Bank,” allegedly orchestrated the entire operation and was behind the wheel of the van that struck the guard. He is now wanted for murder, in addition to charges of armed robbery causing death, night-time theft, unlawful entry, criminal damage and membership of a criminal gang.

 

According to initial police statements, all five detained suspects have confessed to their roles and confirmed that Bank led the group. Although they denied any specific allocation of tasks, they admitted acting together, from breaking into the container to keeping watch during the operation.

 

After the fatal collision, Bank, Ji, and Lek reportedly transported the stolen goods to a location linked to an individual named Jay. Bird and Ek claimed Bank managed the entire plan and that they were unaware of the full details or their potential share of the loot.

 

Investigators suspect that the gang had inside information, as they appeared to know which container held the valuable goods and when the warehouse gates would be opened. This has prompted further questioning of Customs Department personnel, although police have stressed that no law enforcement officers are believed to be involved.

 

One suspect, Bird, had reportedly performed casual work at the police station before, such as cleaning and running errands. However, police have categorically denied any links between this case and serving officers, including speculation surrounding a van seen at the crime scene that resembled a police vehicle.

 

Criminal records reveal that Bank has a prior robbery case from October 2024 at Tha Kham Police Station. Ek has a 2015 drug offence, King has both weapons (2020) and drug (2022) charges, while the other suspects have no previous convictions.

 

Despite the gravity of the crimes, officers reported on 3 June that the five suspects in custody appeared cheerful, chatting and singing songs in their holding cell overnight. Police officials, including senior commanders from the Metropolitan Police Bureau, visited the station that morning to monitor the case and promised a full briefing.

 

The hunt for Bank continues, with authorities believing he may still be in the Greater Bangkok area. Police have vowed to leave no stone unturned in bringing him and anyone else who may have aided the gang to justice.

 

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Amarin 2025-06-03.

 

 

 

[Briggsy]

Expendables working for somebody much higher up the chain. 

[Yagoda]

I bet the owner of the seized ecigs was trying to get them back

[Georgealbert]

UPDATE
Mastermind Behind E-Cigarette Heist Arrested After Fatal Security Guard Hit-and-Run

 

Picture courtesy of Matichon.

 

Police have arrested a key suspect in the violent robbery of confiscated e-cigarettes from a customs warehouse, which resulted in the death of a security guard. The suspect, identified as Mr. Sitthisak, also known as “Bank”, 38, was apprehended and taken in for interrogation this morning at Thungmahamek Police Station.

 

The incident occurred in the early hours of 1 June at the Stadium Warehouse on Thanon Tha Ruea 1, Khlong Toei, Bangkok. A gang of six men used a van to gain access to the warehouse and attempted to steal confiscated e-cigarette products stored by the Customs Department. During the heist, Mr. Boonnak Sawatsuk, a security guard with the Port Authority of Thailand, intervened and was fatally struck by the gang’s vehicle while attempting to pursue them on a motorcycle.

 

According to Deputy National Police Chief Pol Gen Prachuap Wongsuk, five suspects have already been arrested under court-issued warrants for charges including armed robbery resulting in death, night-time burglary of a government facility, illegal entry using force, destruction of property, and participation in a criminal gang. The five suspects in custody are:

 

1. Mr. Narintorn (“Bird”), 46

2. Mr. Thanatorn (“G”), 41

3. Mr. Piyakorn (“King”), 27

4. Mr. Ekachai (“Ek Bod”), 42

5. Mr. Suwat (“Lek”), 42

 

They allegedly acted under the direction of Mr. Bank, who was considered the ringleader and is also being charged with murder to conceal a criminal act.

 

 

Authorities seized the gang’s van and recovered 493 e-cigarette devices, worth approximately 65,820 THB, which had been temporarily stored with another arrested suspect, Mr. Disorn (“Jay”), 41. He faces charges of handling stolen goods.

 

Investigations revealed the gang had randomly broken the locks of five containers in search of valuable goods. They succeeded in stealing three boxes of e-cigarettes from one container before being confronted by the security guard. The Customs Department clarified that the containers had no labels indicating their contents, suggesting the criminals likely found the contraband through trial and error.

 

Mr. Chaloemsak Buakaew, Director of the Seized Goods Division at the Customs Department, stated this was the first known case of stolen seized goods and commended the fallen security guard for his bravery.

 

Police believe the stolen e-cigarettes were targeted for illegal online sale. Mr. Bank, who was already under surveillance for previous involvement in black-market e-cigarette distribution, is suspected of orchestrating the robbery as online sales of these products have become increasingly difficult due to tighter enforcement.

 

Although some suspects claimed this was their first offence and denied any profit-sharing discussions, police remain sceptical. Investigators are also probing whether an insider may have tipped off the gang, though current evidence suggests random container targeting.

 

Police vow to pursue the full truth and hold all involved accountable. Mr. Bank is now in custody and under intensive questioning as the investigation unfolds.

 

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Matichon 2025-06-04

 

 

 

[Gottfrid]

Seems like that Bank made his last transaction

[Georgealbert]

UPDATE
Thai Customs Department Admits Security Lapse After E-Cigarette Heist

 

Picture courtesy of Workpoint News.

 

The Customs Department has admitted to a serious lapse in security after a violent robbery of confiscated e-cigarettes led to the death of a security guard. The theft took place at a container storage area managed by the Port Authority of Thailand, where the seized items were temporarily kept.

 

Mrs Nanthita Sirikhup, Advisor on Customs Control System Development, confirmed that an internal fact-finding committee has been set up to investigate the circumstances surrounding the break-in. The committee has been tasked with completing its inquiry within 7 to 30 days, in accordance with departmental regulations. One line of inquiry will determine whether customs officials were complicit in the incident. Additionally, the department will file a formal complaint with police as the victim of the theft.

 

The stolen items had been stored in five of 55 containers located at the Port Authority premises, close to the Customs Department offices. The remaining containers reportedly contained sensitive legal documents. Mrs Nanthita explained that the Customs Department lacked adequate storage space, prompting them to lease the location from the Port Authority under a formal agreement.

 

Despite assurances that the containers were securely locked, the open and accessible nature of the area proved to be a vulnerability. The e-cigarettes were part of a legal case and were due to be destroyed once court proceedings concluded. Following the incident, the department has pledged to review and improve the security of all evidence storage locations.

 

Rear Admiral Sirarin Chaiyinakkarayot, Director of Operations for the Bangkok Port, acknowledged that the Port Authority had failed to enforce adequate security measures. He said the lease agreement, which is set to expire on 30 September 2025, was signed under the impression that the containers housed only government documents. As a result, he admitted that precautions were not as stringent as they should have been.

 

Rear Admiral Sirarin, who personally oversaw the container placement, said had he known valuable items were involved, he would have arranged the containers to block access to their doors. However, because documents needed to be regularly accessed, the layout was kept open for convenience.

 

He also noted that on the day of the incident, a futsal team affiliated with the Port Authority was using a nearby section of the premises. It was during this time that an intruder was spotted, prompting a security check. Despite routine patrols by security staff, the robbery occurred, resulting in the fatality of a guard.

 

In response, the Port Authority plans to install additional CCTV cameras and enhance surveillance, acknowledging that the current setup is insufficient for safeguarding valuable assets. Rear Admiral Sirarin stressed that the Port Authority is not denying responsibility and will allow legal proceedings to determine liability.

 

He concluded that the crime was likely committed by experienced individuals familiar with the premises and suggested it was a repeat offence. Nonetheless, he expressed confidence that neither Customs nor Port Authority staff were involved, as none had been aware that the containers held valuable goods.

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Workpoint 2025-06-05

 

 

 

[Peabody]

50 container loads of important legal documents??!

Now we know where the endless paperwork that we fill out goes to die.

[BangkokReady]

On 6/4/2025 at 4:17 AM, Georgealbert said:

493 e-cigarette devices, worth approximately 65,820 THB

 

What a heist!  Well worth killing a man for.  I wonder what they each planned to do with their 10,000 Baht...