The Provincial Police Commander of Udonthani admitted police shortcomings regarding the case of the fake Captain Ek and police volunteers who formed a gang extorting money from villagers. He said the authorities did not know the character of those brought in to assist, and legal proceedings will determine guilt or innocence. The fake Captain Ek admitted to wrongdoing without implicating others, claiming his actions stemmed from familiarity due to prior collaboration with police.
On 27 August 2026, several villagers in Ban Tat and Om Ko subdistricts of Ban Dung district, Udonthani province, filed complaints alleging that men dressed like police officers arrested them on drug charges and demanded bribes of 10,000-20,000 baht each in exchange for not prosecuting them.
Recently, Police Colonel Chakart Tiamwong, Deputy Provincial Police Commander of Udonthani, was assigned by the Provincial Police Commander to promptly follow up on the case. He was accompanied by Wirat Phujomkaew, Ban Dung district official, and police volunteers assigned by Phisitchai Apaipiyakul, Deputy Governor of Udonthani responsible for security, to verify the facts regarding "Captain Ek" for clarity and fairness.
Police Colonel Chakart Tiamwong stated that the investigation is ongoing to determine the facts and connections involved. The suspects, including fake Captain Ek and villagers who colluded, have been arrested. It remains to be seen whether they have any links to official police forces, pending the number of victims who file complaints.
During interrogation, the fake Captain Ek and his associates confessed to the crimes and apologized. They admitted to extorting money as seen in the video of them searching villagers’ homes, citing their familiarity from previous work with police. The police are prosecuting them for extortion, impersonating officials, and unlawful detention, all of which the suspects have admitted.
The police affirmed their commitment to fairness for all parties. Investigators are conducting thorough inquiries, and they encourage villagers with additional information about the offenders or concerns about justice to submit documents and evidence to support full legal action against all involved.
At 08:30 today (27 August 2026), in front of the Udonthani Provincial Police Headquarters, Pol. Maj. Gen. Thawatchai Thungpao, Provincial Police Commander, along with Deputy Commander Pol. Col. Nattapon Payommai, Chief of the Investigation Division Pol. Col. Chakraphop Srichanta, and commanders of 23 police stations, held a press conference announcing arrests during an anti-gun crime operation from 12–26 August 2026. They seized 134 firearms, including 123 unregistered and 4 registered guns, 642 rounds of ammunition, and arrested 120 offenders.
Pol. Maj. Gen. Thawatchai Thungpao stated that Udonthani Provincial Police integrated all police units in a proactive campaign to suppress crimes involving firearms, ammunition, and explosives throughout the province from 12–26 August 2026. The operation aimed to assure public safety under government directives. All 23 police stations and the provincial investigation unit participated, seizing 127 guns in direct arrests (123 unregistered, 4 registered) plus 7 guns ordered online, totaling 134 firearms.
Pol. Maj. Gen. Thawatchai Thungpao further explained that the government aims to strictly control firearms, which come in two types: registered and unregistered. Gun owners must undergo training to obtain licenses for registered firearms. Unregistered guns are a serious concern; some mistakenly believe they are harmless, used only for shooting pests. However, possession is illegal and must be carefully controlled.
Regarding police volunteers (police auxiliaries) or community police trained to assist officials, the commander admitted police negligence in not knowing the character of those recruited. He emphasized that any wrongdoing will be dealt with according to the law, referencing the incident involving the fake Captain Ek at Dong Yen police station.
"Udonthani Provincial Police stand as a key force ensuring public safety through continuous proactive operations, including intelligence gathering, checkpoints, patrols, and strict law enforcement, to guarantee the well-being, security, and peace of mind of all citizens."