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Authorities have carried out a series of raids in a nationwide crackdown on Thailand’s largest loan shark gang, which has a revolving fund of Bt4 billion, a network of 2,000 moneylenders and 86 franchise branches lending money to some 170,000 borrowers.

Officers are now focused on arresting gang members, including 4,000 “helmet gang” debt collectors and 1,000 officials identified by nicknames, phone numbers and affiliated agencies, Justice deputy permanent secretary Pol Colonel Dusadee Arayawuth told a press conference yesterday at the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) office.

DSI chief Pol Colonel Paisit Wongmuang said arrest warrants would soon be issued for 2,000 to 3,000 peoฌple allegedly involved with the gang.

Dusadee said the Justice Ministry had sent a list of 3,000 officials and influential figures allegedly involved in the illegal loan business to the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO). Borrowers were charged up to 300 per cent in annual interest fees.

http://www.nation...l/30302743

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Valuables seized from Thailand's biggest loan-shark network, known as the Helmet Gang, are displayed at the Department of Special Investigation in Bangkok.

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Justice authorities display some of the cash found in the loan-shark gang's safes.

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About 80 motorcycles seized from the illegal lending network are shown at the Department of Special Investigation in Bangkok.

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