Thai cops hunt 'kingpin' in migrant trafficking probe
AFP

BANGKOK: -- A manhunt intensified Wednesday for the alleged kingpin of a Thai people smuggling network, police said, as detectives probe whether a private island near the Malaysia sea border was a key link in a trafficking chain spanning several countries.

Thai police believe Pajjuban Aungkachotephan, a one time senior provincial official known locally as Ko Tong, has fled the kingdom since a warrant for his arrest was issued on Saturday.

The probe is examining whether Ko Tong used the small island near the Malaysian sea border as a base to mastermind a trafficking network which has unravelled since May 1 when dozens of migrants' graves were found on the nearby Thai mainland.

A police crackdown following the grim discovery appears to have forced smuggling gangs to flee, abandoning hundreds of migrants from Myanmar and Bangladesh in a network of Thai jungle camps near the Malaysia border.

Around 2,000 more have been found on boats in Malaysian and Indonesian waters or have swum to shore in recent days, with fears that thousands of others remain at sea without food and water.

"Ko Tong is a mastermind of the trafficking gang in Satun province (bordering Malaysia), but I can't disclose all of the details," Major General Paveen Pongsirin, a deputy regional commander in the Thai south told AFP.

"He has a lot of assets -- tens of millions of baht in assets have been seized. He is a very prominent figure," he said.

Rights groups and observers have long accused Thai officials, including the police and military, of turning a blind eye to human trafficking -- and even being complicit in the grim trade.

Police have arrested 18 people over the scandal, including senior local officials, with warrants out for 32 more.

However no law enforcement or military figures have been arrested yet.

Instead more than 50 police officers, including senior officials, have been "transferred" from their posts for failing to act against the trade.

- An 'influential person' -

Thailand's police chief on Tuesday said Ko Tong had fled to a "neighbouring country" --- while local media reports said he was believed to be on the Malaysian resort island of Langkawi.

The kingdom's top cop is meeting his Malaysian counterpart in Phuket later Wednesday.

Ko Tong -- Ko means 'Big Brother' -- owned a large chunk of land on Rat Yai, a small island just off the coast of Satun, which borders Malaysia, according to the province's governor.

"He used to be chairman of Satun Provincial Administration but recently lost elections," Dejrath Simsiri told AFP.

"He is an 'influential person'," he said, adding he is also known to have ties to local officials in nearby Padang Besar -- the district where the migrant graves were found in a remote hillside.

Locals in Satun told AFP the Rat Yai was renowned for being off limits.

"If any boats came near the island speedboats would come and tell them to leave," a local resident said, requesting anonymity.

Tens of thousands of Rohingya Muslims have braved the dangerous sea crossing to southern Thailand from Myanmar in recent years, with many headed for Malaysia and beyond.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2015-05-13

So this kingpins Island offlimits? maybe it deserves an look see.

He's not the highest link in the chain, that's for damn sure ...

He is the escaped, to protect the real boss! The enigma. That is Thailand!

Not much of a manhunt if they knew he left the kingdom and are only meeting with Malaysia's police chief today. How much time do they plan to give this guy to flee even further?

If, and a very small if, they catch this guy I would be very surprised.

As usual, the "authorities" gave several days head start to this guy and whoever else is involved.

Thailand, now the hub of kingpins. Why look for them now ? 12 years ago there was an international report suggesting that the Thai military were running these operations. why all this fuss now about looking for him ? After all, at that time who was the General in charge ?

The King pin is most probably Thai & either long gone or is so well connected he's at home supping char booking his holiday !!

It never ends this is Thailand

"He used to be chairman of Satun Provincial Administration"

And for years nobody had the cohones to check on his unnatural wealth...

They should make his Island a hard labor camp for him and all the other so called "influential figures".

He's not the highest link in the chain, that's for damn sure ...

I'm wondering if his escape has something to do with not wanting him around so that he ends up squealing like a pig about others up the chain.

So this island is on the border and his property is on the border, the same border thats used by terrorist to infiltrate Thailand. How can this man have smuggled thousands of people accross this border without the armed forces knowing about it.

thai cops hunt kingpin ? is this a joke the pm stated previously Thailand isn't involved in trafficking its a transit country Thailand has been involved in trafficking a long time I think someone should inform the pm.

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It never ends this is Thailand

I may be a pie-eyed optimist, but I'm hoping in this world of social media, news is traveling further and faster, and I think the international community is finally taking notice. For the EU to give the "yellow card" to Thailand shows they are aware and threatening to take REAL action if this mess isn't cleaned up. Then, first the Japanese and now the Chinese are threatening action towards Thai airlines that aren't up to safety standards.

I compare this to the deepening movement against Monsanto, the largest and most vicious company in the food industry worldwide. Even though Monsanto pours MILLIONS in advertising and bribing lawmakers, people are pushing back, and Monsanto products are getting pulled out of restaurants, food products, and getting banned from responsible countries altogether.

The point is, if we keep exposing Thailand for its atrocities (and that's what this behavior is, atrocious), then MAYBE, just MAYBE they may start realizing that they can't keep avoiding truth to save face.

Again, pie-eyed optimist. I'm still moving out of Thailand and into a more foreigner-friendly country . . .

I would be good to have this guy in chains for life. And his family too.

Last seen on a speedboat heading towards Malaysia, Rat Yai is famous for swiftlets nests (bird nest soup etc) from which he makes a lot of money.

The Kingpin? FOUND HIM!!! He was hiding in a Spiderman cartoon!!

Quote "Ko Tong is a mastermind of the trafficking gang in Satun province (bordering Malaysia), but I can't disclose all of the details" is the quote above. Disclose all of the details what a joke they already warned him they were coming when they announced they were seeking his arrest warrant. He had time to eat breakfast smoke a good cigar clean out his bank account and call his chauffeur to bring the car around to escape. Anything he could not take with him he has no doubt buried somewhere. After all this blows over and a little plastic surgery and he will be back.

He's not the highest link in the chain, that's for damn sure ...

True, but he knows who is which is why he will never be arrested

So this island is on the border and his property is on the border, the same border thats used by terrorist to infiltrate Thailand. How can this man have smuggled thousands of people accross this border without the armed forces knowing about it.

Why would you assume that anybody thinks that the armed forces knew nothing about it ? Getting a conviction,aye there's the rub.