The search was conducted at 10 homes in Tambon Tha Sung of Muang district and resulted in the seizure of title deeds for land and buildings covering 801 rai in Muang and Nong Khayang districts.

One of the properties raided was the home of 47-year-old Wichai, where his ailing parents were living.

The operation, part of a Justice Ministry crackdown on influential figures to reduce social inequity, was conducted as Deputy Permanent Secretary for Justice Pol Colonel Dusadee Arayawuth headed a “war room” at head office to closely follow the raids and instruct officers to collect evidence thoroughly.

As some local people had told officers that Wichai’s son had a resort in Uthai Thani, the officers planned to conduct a search there later.

Wichai’s alleged loan-shark gang reportedly has a revolving fund of Bt4 billion, a network of 2,000 moneylenders and 86 franchise branches lending money to around 170,000 borrowers who were charged up to 250 per cent annual interest. Borrowers falling behind with repayments were reportedly harassed by “helmet gang” debt collectors.

It is also suspected that the gang operates a similar loan-shark business operation in Cambodia.

In December, the DSI impounded the gang’s assets worth Bt150 million, followed by another batch of |assets worth Bt42 million in mid-January.

Wichai remains at large after he took a trip abroad with his family and failed to return and give himself up as promised to authorities.

Dusadee said that Wichai, who is wanted for racketeering, operating an illegal loan business, and collecting loan interest beyond the legal rate, had contacted authorities and offered to surrender, but only on condition that he would be granted bail.

Around 1,000 state officials allegedly involved with the gang are also being investigated.