Pol Lt-General Sutthipong Wongpin, the commissioner of the Provincial Police Bureau 7, said Khamkhuncharoen Khonchaturas, 44, was arrested after a warrant was issued by the Suphan Buri court.

He allegedly raped the tourist and left her in Suphan Buri on Tuesday.

The tourist told police that she took the taxi from Don Mueang International Airport headed to her destination in Soi Thonglor after she flew from Kuala Lumpur at 1.30pm on Tuesday.

Police checked CCTV feeds and identified a yellow and green taxi with licence plate number Thor Yor 4448.

He was charged with rape and detaining a person against her will.

The move comes after the NBTC’s meeting with representatives from the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society, the National Intelligence Agency, the Royal Thai Police Bureau, providers of the International Internet Gateway (IIG) and ISPs on Tuesday.

NBTC secretary-general Takorn Tantasith said ISPs must immediately remove content deemed to defame the monarchy.

The providers could remove the content by themselves without waiting for a court order or notification from the Digital Economy Ministry or the NBTC, he said.

Takorn warned that those who violated the order would face penalties, which could affect their attempts to acquire a new license in the future.

Those arrested were identified as Apiwat “Sia Erk” Cha-aimnoi, 34, Banphot Srichan, 41, and Mana Buasuwan, 40.

Bureau Region 4 deputy commander Pol Col Wachara Thipmongkol said undercover officers Pol Senior Sergeant Major Sahat Kiangbangyang and Pol Corporals Natthawut Chanthawong and Nuwat Khienkola presented Apiwat with Bt3 million in cash as payment for 60,000 amphetamine pills at a gas station in Khao Yoy district. Banphot and Mana then allegedly led them to a roadside drug stash in Tha Yang. On confirming the nature of the pills, police moved to arrest the two, Wachara said, but they resisted and caused injury to the officers.

Wachara said Apiwat was arrested and claimed to be acting on behalf of a dealer identified only as Kitti, who was to pay him Bt70,000 for confirming the cash delivery.

Bureau Region 4 superintendent Pol Colonel Yutthana Preuksarungreung said more accomplices were being sought and efforts were underway to seize the gang’s assets. Police had already seized three fighting bulls at Apiwat’s farm, gold ornaments and Bt2 million found in bank accounts, he said.

The three men arrested on Wednesday face charges of possessing narcotics with intent to sell, while Banphot was also charged with carrying a gun and, along with Mana, resisting arrest.

The Special Economic Zone Watch Network also demanded that a Regulatory Impact Assessment be conducted on the proposed EEC Bill covering development in Chachoengsao, Chonburi and Rayong.

It stressed that the bill would result in harm to livelihoods and the quality of life along the Eastern Seaboard.

In a statement, the network set out three demands. It asked the government to publicise the EEC Bill as required by Article 59 of the new Constitution, and have a neutral and independent agency conduct an impact assessment on the bill that is open to public participation.

It demanded that the government reconsider the bill “carefully”, especially a section granting privileges to investors, warning that the legislation would violate citizens’ and community rights.

The group stressed that if its demands were not met, it would file lawsuits against the government agencies involved.

Human rights lawyer Anon Nampa posted on his Facebook last night that Ekachai had phoned him and informed him that military officers were sending him home.

Since the disappearance of the historic plaque and its replacement with a new plaque with different wordings became public knowledge on April 14, at least five people have come out in the open and demanded an investigation. They include activist Srisuwan Janya and Pheu Thai member Watana Muangsook, both of whom were detained and investigated by security officials.

A security agency source said Ekachai had been invited for “a talk to create some mutual understanding” at the 11th Military Circle after the activist attempted to submit a complaint seeking an investigation into the missing plaque.

Ekachai had previously been convicted of lese majeste. He works for political prisoners at the newly established association For Friends.

The badly injured tourist was spotted by local residents of Moo 8 village in Tambon Thung Khok in Suphan Buri’s Song Phi Nong district late Tuesday night.

Police were informed about the incident at 11.30pm and the woman was sent to a hospital.

The woman told police that she had flown in from Kuala Lumpur, arriving at Don Mueang airport at 1.30pm on Tuesday.

She took a yellow-and-green taxi from Airport Hotel and asked him to take her to Soi Thong Lor.

She said she noticed that her phone signal died while riding the taxi, as a result she lost communication with her friend on Line app.

She said the driver stopped the taxi in a field and tried to rape her. When she resisted, she was repeatedly hit and then raped. She said the driver left her at the scene and sped off.

Suphan Buri police chief Pol Maj-General Sukhun Prommayon said police would make a facial sketch of the suspect and would check CCTV feeds to try and arrest him.

The victim was later transferred to Police General Hospital in Bangkok.