PHUKET: Police believe a gang that stole 30 million baht in jewellery in a snatch and drive raid on Phuket this week has probably pulled off or planned similar heists in other countries.
The hunt is now on for Mexican woman Maria Assenth Melia Zuluaga, 57, who may be the mastermind behind the operation.
Two members of the gang, a Malaysian woman and a Mexican man, were presented to media on Phuket this afternoon having been captured within hours of yesterday's bold daylight Phuket heist.
Police are pursuing Ms Zuluaga, whom officers say may have escaped with about eight million baht in gems.
Beyond reports that she had asked to go to the toilet after being arrested, details of how she has so far eluded police are not known.
A Thai man and a 47-year-old Turkish man are still being held south of Phuket in the province of Trang, where the getaway car from the Phuket heist was apprehended yesterday evening, probably on its way to cross the border into Malaysia.
Drugs were also found in the vehicle. The Thai and Turkish men are being questioned in Trang about that aspect of the case, the media presentation was told on Phuket this afternoon.
Police found a diary listing jewellery shows around the world in the luggage of the suspects, who appeared to have staked out the jewellery festival being held at Phuket's Central Festival mall from May 10-16 before fixing on Bangkok gems specialist Tongsak Jidtakanlern, 46, as their target.
Khun Tongsak said 600 pieces of gold and jewellery in two travel bags were stolen when the gang smashed their way into a van parked in the street behind Phuket's Big C supermarket at lunchtime on Monday. Only 430 items have so far been recovered.
Malaysian Roslina Binti Abu Bakar, 42, and Mexican Ruben Dario Zapata Gonzalez, 41, were brought from Trang to Phuket overnight and presented to the media at Phuket City Police Station this afternoon.
The police investigation is continuing.
The hunt is now on for Mexican woman Maria Assenth Melia Zuluaga, 57, who may be the mastermind behind the operation.
Two members of the gang, a Malaysian woman and a Mexican man, were presented to media on Phuket this afternoon having been captured within hours of yesterday's bold daylight Phuket heist.
Police are pursuing Ms Zuluaga, whom officers say may have escaped with about eight million baht in gems.
Beyond reports that she had asked to go to the toilet after being arrested, details of how she has so far eluded police are not known.
A Thai man and a 47-year-old Turkish man are still being held south of Phuket in the province of Trang, where the getaway car from the Phuket heist was apprehended yesterday evening, probably on its way to cross the border into Malaysia.
Drugs were also found in the vehicle. The Thai and Turkish men are being questioned in Trang about that aspect of the case, the media presentation was told on Phuket this afternoon.
Police found a diary listing jewellery shows around the world in the luggage of the suspects, who appeared to have staked out the jewellery festival being held at Phuket's Central Festival mall from May 10-16 before fixing on Bangkok gems specialist Tongsak Jidtakanlern, 46, as their target.
Khun Tongsak said 600 pieces of gold and jewellery in two travel bags were stolen when the gang smashed their way into a van parked in the street behind Phuket's Big C supermarket at lunchtime on Monday. Only 430 items have so far been recovered.
Malaysian Roslina Binti Abu Bakar, 42, and Mexican Ruben Dario Zapata Gonzalez, 41, were brought from Trang to Phuket overnight and presented to the media at Phuket City Police Station this afternoon.
The police investigation is continuing.
why on earth would you leave 30m of gold in a van ???? has the owner of van got 30bhts worth of brains or what?.
amzing thailand
Posted by jack on May 16, 2012 20:58