Highway police stopped a gang impersonating district officers driving a sedan with government emblems—a 'บก.ปพ.' sticker on the front windshield and the Department of Provincial Administration logo on the side door—traveling at 121 km/h. They claimed to be rushing to a meeting and requested assistance from authorities to facilitate their passage.
At 15:00 on 18 June 2026, Police Lieutenant Colonel Kiattiporn Sawasdithep, supervisor of Highway Police Station 2, Division 5, together with Narathip Krueawiset, district officer of Ko Kha District, Lampang Province, and Lampang highway police officers, conducted an inspection after spotting three suspicious individuals at a checkpoint on Highway 1, kilometer marker 688, Wang Phrao Subdistrict, Ko Kha District, Lampang Province.
During the checkpoint, a white Toyota sedan was observed traveling at 121 kilometers per hour. Upon requesting the driver’s license for inspection, a 21-year-old man seated in the back opened the window and claimed to be a “district officer” nicknamed Pote, stating he was on official business and urgently heading to a meeting at Chiang Mai provincial hall, asking officers for assistance.
Additionally, a 58-year-old man in the front passenger seat identified himself as a retired police officer with the rank of police captain, saying he was accompanying the man claiming to be the district officer.
The driver, a 23-year-old man from Tak Province, claimed to be a customs official at the specialist level.
However, upon closer inspection, officials found several suspicious details: the car displayed a 'บก.ปพ.' sticker on the front windshield and a magnetic sticker resembling the Department of Provincial Administration, Ministry of Interior’s logo on the side door. Inside, they found documents referencing the Ministry of Interior’s administrative division, as well as installed signal lights and sirens. A search uncovered multiple counterfeit official uniforms, including one embroidered with the title 'district officer.' The man impersonating the district officer was identified as 21-year-old Manat Saekua from Tak Province, who is not a civil servant as claimed.
No record of his name appeared in the Ministry of Interior’s civil servant registry. Authorities also found two handheld radios, several government insignia, and documents suspected of being used to bolster the impersonators' credibility with the public.
The sedan was a rental from a company in Chiang Mai, leased since May, with travel history to various provinces including northern Thailand, Tak, Maha Sarakham, and northeastern regions. Authorities are investigating whether the fake government status was used to seek benefits or perpetrate fraud in multiple areas.
Initially, officials charged the man impersonating a district officer with the offense of using counterfeit official insignia. The driver was charged for unauthorized installation and use of special signaling devices. Radios and other evidence are being examined for legality and ownership.
The three suspects were detained and transferred to Ko Kha Police Station for legal proceedings. Authorities urge the public to report any sightings or information about individuals impersonating government officials or involved in similar fraudulent activities to Lampang highway police or nearby stations to support ongoing investigations.