A 100,000 baht reward has been offered to capture two robbers who stole gold at a famous mall branch in Chiang Khong, Chiang Rai Province, with coordination underway with Laos to track them down.
On 5 August 2026, updates were reported regarding suspects who used firearms to rob a gold shop inside a well-known mall in Chiang Khong, Chiang Rai. They took 64 baht weight of gold necklaces and 120 baht weight of bracelets, totaling 184 baht of gold valued at 13,036,400 baht. The incident occurred on 4 August 2026 at about 16:00.Read news: Manhunt for two suspects robbing gold at Chiang Rai mall, firing a warning shot before grabbing five trays of gold and fleeing.)
Recently, Mr. Surachet Puynoi, District Chief of Chiang Khong, issued an urgent letter to the Governor of Chiang Rai Province and directly coordinated with the chief of Huay Sai town, Bokeo Province, Laos, requesting cooperation to track the suspects based on leads. CCTV footage was reviewed to identify the suspects' behavior and escape route as follows.
There were two suspects, one of whom is a Laotian national. Both crossed into Chiang Khong District by boat via Bak Pier, Wiang Subdistrict, at approximately 15:06 on the day of the incident (4 August).
They rented a motorcycle near Bak Pier to travel to the Lotus Mall to commit the robbery. Afterward, the suspects abandoned the motorcycle by the Mekong River at Ban Hat Khrai, Wiang Subdistrict, before being picked up by an unidentified boat to cross back to Huay Sai town, Bokeo Province, Laos. One of the suspects passing through Chiang Khong immigration is Mr. KHAMTID PONPASID, born 5 August 1998, currently 28 years old. Documents show his hometown as Muang Beng or Pakbeng Town, Oudomxay Province.
The Chiang Khong District assigned Mr. Danaiwat Srimuang, Deputy District Chief for Security Affairs, as the main liaison with the chief of Huay Sai and relevant agencies to expedite the suspects' apprehension and legal prosecution.
Meanwhile, Police Major General Manop Senakul, Commander of Chiang Rai Provincial Police, revealed that authorities have set a 100,000 baht reward for information leading to the capture of the two suspects. Forensic teams are gathering evidence on the suspects, coordinating with immigration officials in Chiang Saen to work with Laos authorities on tracking the offenders.
Police Lieutenant Colonel Suwira Rakphan, Deputy Chief of Investigation at Chiang Khong Police Station, added that evidence is being compiled to request arrest warrants. He reported that coordination with Laos officials indicates the suspects fled north to Luang Namtha Province and left a vehicle at a relative’s house. Laos police are actively pursuing them.
Locally, officers continue reviewing CCTV footage along the escape route and collecting physical evidence at the scene to support arrest warrants. The Lotus Mall and gold shop involved have resumed normal operations, with patrol officers monitoring security rounds. Additionally, local fishermen reported that around noon on 4 August, a suspicious blue boat was seen docked at Ban Hat Khrai pier before heading downstream toward Pak Ing or south along the river.