CHIANG MAI – Police Region 5 Police Commander shared the results of a major operation targeting violent youth gangs, saying officers had arrested “Top,” the leader of a Shan youth gang involved in a shocking assault in which a 14-year-old girl was attacked and left with her right hand severed.
On Tuesday, at the Region 5 Provincial Police Headquarters in Chiang Mai, Police Lt Gen. Kritthaphon Yisakhon, head of Region 5 Police, told a press briefing that police officers had tracked down and arrested “Top,” head of the 999 gang, accused of working with “Mong” to attack several teenagers with swords.
Three young people were seriously hurt, including a 14-year-old girl whose hand was cut off. The attack happened late on 16 September at a 24-hour laundrette in Nong Pa Khrang, Mueang District, Chiang Mai. The suspects fled after the assault.
During questioning, Top admitted to joining Mong in the attack. As the leader of the Tai Yai 999 gang, he had fled charges in Bangkok and moved to Chiang Mai looking for work, where he met Mong.
Escaped to the Border
On the day of the assault, Top claimed that a rival group had attacked his friend. He and his group coordinated on LINE before going after the rivals. When they found the teenagers, they attacked and then split up. Top later escaped to Saraphi, then rode his motorbike to Bangkok, then travelled to Plaeng Yao in Chachoengsao province, planning to cross into Cambodia.
The authorities caught him before he could leave the country. He told police he mistakenly targeted the wrong person and did not know the victim was a girl. He expressed regret and wanted to apologize. Police have charged him with causing serious injury, being part of a criminal gang, unlawful assembly with violent intent, possession of weapons, and attempted murder under sections 83, 210, 215, and 297 of the Criminal Code.
Police Lt Gen. Kritthaphon said he instructed Region 5 officers, Chiang Mai investigators, and Lamphun police to step up operations against gangs after this attack. The investigation revealed four groups involved – the 999 gang, 979 gang, Dubai gang, and Black Lotus gang.
Police Take Down Youth Gangs
Thirty people were identified; police have caught 18 so far, and 12 remain at large. An arrest warrant is out for Deuan, leader of the Black Lotus gang, with officers tracking him down. Together, these four gangs have around 80 members and were only formed about a month ago.
They would meet at snooker halls around Sri Bua Ngern and noodle shops in Pa Daet, drinking kratom drinks to boost morale before their crimes. Police had previously busted these gangs in 2024, with some members jailed, but the group regrouped and struck again.
This violent incident led authorities to widen their crackdown on the Tai Yai gangs and illegal workers in Chiang Mai and Lamphun. Officers arrested 189 people for offences that included illegal entry (93), working without permits (16), drug crimes (16), property offences (2), assault (2), overstaying visas (3), outstanding arrest warrants (2), and others like e-cigarettes and selling kratom mixed with cough syrup (55).
These actions aim to keep residents and tourists safe, especially as Chiang Mai gears up for Loy Krathong. Without these efforts, these gangs could regroup and put the public at risk again.
Youth gangs in Chiang Mai, a major tourist hub in northern Thailand, have been a persistent issue for decades, often linked to rapid urbanization, economic inequality, migration from neighbouring countries like Myanmar, and the city’s proximity to drug-trafficking routes in the Golden Triangle.
These groups typically consist of teenagers aged 14–20, engaging in activities ranging from street fights and petty theft to violent assaults and drug peddling. While not all are highly organized, they pose risks to locals, tourists, and the city’s reputation as a safe destination. Recent incidents in 2025 have intensified police crackdowns.
