DSI spokesman Colonel Piyawat Kingket said yesterday that the agency now had Danish national Kim Lindegaard Neilsen, a deputy head of the Bandidos, in custody and was questioning him over accusations the gang had committed crimes including money laundering, illegal land acquirement, bribery and extortion.

Piyawat said Neilsen, 36, who had faced criminal charges in 22 countries, denied the accusations and had said he would testify only during a court trial.

British national Crispin John Granville Paton-Smith, 43, who was arrested in a DSI raid on the resort island on Wednesday, is in custody but has not been charged with any offence, said Piyawat.

He did not mention another Briton, Peter Watkin Jones, aged 40, who was also arrested in the raid.

The head of the gang, Danish national Peter Rosenberg, 35, is set to be brought to Thailand from Denmark for questioning following cooperation between Thai and Danish police.

Piyawat said Pratheep Muangkaew, a Thai lawyer who was allegedly instrumental in mediating illicit deals and setting up unlawful business foundations for the gang, would turn himself in to DSI officers on Monday to fight the accusations.

The DSI is on alert to prevent other international gangs from coming to Thailand, especially the American Hell's Angels, who are rivals of the Bandidos.