Chiang Mai: Helpful 'Army Captain' turns out to be drug dealer

[webfact]

Helpful 'Army Captain' Turns Out To Be Drug Dealer
By Khaosod English


Rangsan Charoenkart poses for police in field and dress uniforms identifying him as a captain in the Royal Thai Army.

CHIANG MAI — About a year ago Cpt. Rangsan Charoenkart introduced himself to police authorities up in Chiang Mai province as an army liaison.

About a year ago Cpt. Rangsan Charoenkart introduced himself to police authorities up in Chiang Mai province as an army liaison.

Showing up one month after the military coup in a crisp uniform, he attached himself to the police for drug interdiction efforts and even rode shotgun on a number of raids. He made the rounds and got to know many local administrative officials.

Not only was Rangsan not a captain, but more than a year later police admitted today they were duped by a drug dealer who thought he’d found the perfect disguise. He was arrested in the early hours of this morning.

Rangsan, 34, first introduced himself to the police in June 2014, according to Police Lt. Col. Yutthakan Metha of the Mae Rim Police Station. Apparently Rangsan walked the walk and talked the talk.

“His talking style and manner are very convincing,” Yutthakan said.

While he might have the bearing, Rangsan was betrayed by his lack of a soldier’s stature.

In February – after eight months after he first appeared – some policemen started suspecting Rangsan was faking it.

Full story: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1438940875


-- Khaosod English 2015-08-07

[clockman]

Land of fakes!

[thaipod]

One star is a second Lt.

[chainarong]

No one bothered to check, very unusual case though , stuff you could write a book on , why am I surprised .

[amerasianex]

And he did all this official business without showing and official ID? In the land of fakes and frauds. Police are not to smart either it appears.....

[falangjim]

Didn't anyone wonder why he wasn't on the payroll? Surely even a soldier gets a bit of money. Land of fakes.

[Happy Grumpy]

Police are not to smart either it appears.....

The lack of emblem on the front of his Fortuner as he drove over people gave the game away.

[Reigntax]

Are we sure he is not a fake drug dealer selling fake drugs or maybe the article is fake.

You ve got love that after 8 months under their noses some officers began to get suspicious.

Maybe he just fitted in so well with those pretending to be police officers!

[espinoza]

This can only happen because the police and the military is not on the same network. Like Mickey Mouse and IS.

[mikemac]

A drug dealer working with the RTP, first time for everything I suppose.

[soalbundy]

Certainty was just one phone call away.

[klauskunkel]

that undershirt is not part of a Captain's uniform

[SOTIRIOS]

..the land of pretend....

...even 'valid credentials' don't necessarily mean anything.....

...and this guy knows it......I applaud him that....

[aripengu]

[soalbundy]

He will laugh about this later in life, ''Remember when i got 30 years for drug dealing and impersonating an army officer''

[Acharn]

I'm no expert on Thai Army uniforms, but these don't look authentic. What's the U.S. Army 1st Cavalry Division patch on his right arm for? The single word "ARMY," on his left arm certainly isn't part of a real uniform. I can't identify the flag below the word "ARMY," but colored insignia like that and the U.S. Army patch on his right arm definitely aren't used on camouflage uniforms. I can't make out the rank insignia on the camouflage uniform, but the one star on the dress uniform is the insignia of a "muad," a 2nd Lieutenant, not a "phukong," or Captain. Cops and Army use basically the same rank insignia, so they should have noticed that. Really, the camouflage uniform looks like something they might sell at a night bazaar somewhere, like the idea a civilian might have of what an army uniform looks like but really doesn't. Gotta give the guy points for audacity, though.

Edited August 8, 2015 by Acharn

[mikemac]

Certainty was just one phone call away.

And a guy like that could come in handy.................................

[technologybytes]

Well you have to give the man 10 out of 10 for effort.

I'm seriously impressed that someone who is not even a soldier manages to pretend to be a captain for so long.

Thailand needs more men like this !!

[soalbundy]

Well you have to give the man 10 out of 10 for effort.

I'm seriously impressed that someone who is not even a soldier manages to pretend to be a captain for so long.

Thailand needs more men like this !!

They already have lots like this in every position of society

[Doc46]

That is not me ,,,that must be a CLONE,,,

[Blitzkrieg Bob]

[hawthorne]

He was under cover for the drug cartel. They probably saw enough military personnel over time to get just enough information to put a uniform together. I am surprised that none of the police had any prior military experience. Maybe that does not happen in Thailand? Glad the scum is off the street.

[Jimlove]

Apparently he knew that RTP is a bunch of idiots and that he didnt risk a lot by faking it ... Some RTP probably didnt like when they found out that he was dealing drugs - thais hate competition ...

[cocopops]

While he might have the bearing, Rangsan was betrayed by his lack of a soldier’s stature.

Does this mean they finally figured it out because he wasn't tall enough? That almost makes it worse...

[Sparkles]

that undershirt is not part of a Captain's uniform

Celtic supporter,fake shirt.

[wabothai]

And he did all this official business without showing and official ID? In the land of fakes and frauds. Police are not to smart either it appears.....

Authority is not being questioned in Thailand. basically reason for all the corruption.

[cookee68]

it took 1 year to catch him out.

[chainarong]

A drug dealer working with the RTP, first time for everything I suppose.

You sure about first time for everything.

[LarryBird]

It's awesome that he saw the Coup as an opportunity. I wonder why more people aren't asking why he chose to dress up as military.

[LarryBird]

It's also very much the Thai way to figure out who he was.. 'He's bigger than me, so I can't directly ask for credentials, I will ask around and find out if he's legit.'