Thailand’s million-dollar gold heist reveals costly price of peace in insurgency-hit south

The robbery in Sungai Kolok, near the Thai-Malaysian border, bore the hallmarks of a rebel-led operation, the defence minister said

The suspects are caught on CCTV fleeing the scene after grabbing bags of gold on October 5. Photo: Thai police

Don Pathan

www.scmp.com 

A million-dollar gold heist in Thailand’s far south by armed robbers who blocked roads with spikes and set explosives to seal their escape across the Malaysian border has rattled the Thai security establishment, as efforts to reignite peace talks in an area roiled by insurgency continue to fall flat.

Around 20 men working in three teams carried out the October 5 theft from a gold shop in Sungai Kolok, bordering Malaysia’s Kelantan State.

The theft of hundreds of gold ornaments and jewellery valued at over 36.5 million baht (US$1.13 million) came as prices for the precious metal spiked to historic highs of over US$4,200 per 28 grams (one ounce) earlier this month.

Using two stolen getaway trucks, the robbers planted road spikes and explosives to obstruct police pursuit in a heist so well-oiled that Thai authorities immediately attributed it to the Barisan Revolusi Nasional Melayu Patani (BRN).

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