During the operation, dubbed Yutthakarn Prabpram Pump Paiplom II (second operation to suppress fake car licence plates), officers also seized 39 cars, 56 motorcycles, 12 guns, caches of ammunition, 13 car licence plates and 34 bank account books as evidence, he said.

The suspects were facing charges of racketeering, forgery, and having guns and ammunition in their possession without permission, he said.

The operation stemmed from a police investigation that found 19 locations linked to car and motorcycle theft crimes which saw the vehicles fitted with fake licence plates and sent for sale outside the country as well as gun dealing and illegal money lending, Surachet said.

Among the suspects, some reportedly used Facebook as a contact point for people to “pawn” their vehicles and guns to borrow cash, he said. But when many customers wanted to get their cars back, they found that the vehicles had already been sent for sale in a neighbouring country or used in a crime.

Both operations had led to the arrest of 24 suspects, he said, adding that police were gathering evidence to detain more suspects.