According to the Bangkok Post there are more than 20 powerful groups operating in the airport which come under the command of major gangs – Kamnan Samruay, Boonruang Srisang, Sak Pakphanang and Pirap.
The Kamnan Samruay camp used to operate at Don Mueang airport, where they provided underground foreign exchange services.
At the new airport, the gang has extended its business to cover ticketing and illegal taxi and tour guide services. It also collects “protection fees” from smaller gangs.
The Boonruang Srisang gang also runs an illegal taxi and tour guide service network. It has a small number of members and is independent.
The Sak Pakphanang gang is a break-away from the Boonruang Srisang gang, while the Pirap group is believed to have strong connections as its leader has the same last name as an AoT executive.
There are also two prominent groups known as the Pattaya Mafia gang and the Phuyai Daeng gang. The Pattaya Mafia gang, whose leaders are known as Steve and Montri and who are neatly dressed and can easily pass as passengers, is stationed on the fourth floor of the passenger terminal. The Phuyai Daeng gang, with good connections with influential figures in Samut Prakan, works more like a lobbyist for fraudsters who want to gain entry to the airport.
We have all seen these illegal tour guides hanging around the arrivals hall and approach foreign passengers. They introduce themselves as airport workers and lead tourists to illegal taxi queues when a deal is made.” They are scattered on every floor in the terminal and stay among passengers and officials. According to the AOT “It is hard to pick them out from the crowd because they are well dressed” but that must be a joke even a normal expats living here for more then 1 year could pick them out in no time.
I think the Bangkok Post should hand in a Thai copy of the report and arrest these people behind the scams. But since the trail go so high up it probably never happened.
The problem is that they always have to do crack down and raids they never arrest one on one. Biggest problem with Thai police they are to scared arrest the wrong person. Look what happen when they took the airport they just walked in.
Arriving last week Wednesday at Suvarnabhumi Airport from Phuket and on my way to Starbucks at the Airport to meet a friend, i was approached twice and offered a taxi to Pattaya.
The people who approached me – actually they walked walking besides me – did carry luggage like any other travelers arriving at the airport. Now the gang still operates disguised as normal travelers with luggage. One person had a bigger piece of luggage with trolley and the other one had just hand luggage only.
I informed security and pointed to this people! Security only smiled at me and walked away …. 🙂
Still a lot to be cleaned up it seems…