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Published on November 26, 2007

The team put together to fight this threat is being lead by National Police deputy chief General Wongkot Maneerin.

The police database reportedly stores biographies on 1,000 suspected gunmen for hire. They are divided into four groups: former policemen or soldiers, serving policemen or soldiers, civilians who sport security officers' uniforms, and others.

General Wongkot Maneerin: He became very active in enforcement during the Thaksin administration when he headed a "War on Drugs" team, elevating himself among the leading "tough cops". His work profile also includes suppression of southern unrest, and together with his team, came back with flying colours.

Lt-Gen Phanuphong Singara na Ayuthaya: An assistant National Police chief, he is the "real deal" who has been called upon many times when crackdowns on influential figures and gunmen were needed. Notably, during the time when General Sombat Amornwiwat supervised the Crime Suppression Division (CSD), Phanuphong was called in to join the missions.

Phanuphong was also involved in the Thaksin administration's drug-trafficking crackdown, and he was also co-opted for police work against the southern unrest. He was assigned as commissioner of Provincial Police Region 5, leading to a decline in serious crime in the northern region.

Lt-Gen Assawin Kwanmuang: The Metropolitan Police commissioner is known for his no-nonsense approach and has a reputation for getting the job done. His work includes the task of hunting down the drug-dealing "Jo Danchang" gang members, who were reportedly seen arrested and handcuffed, but were later found dead in a hut.

Maj-General Kridsada Phankhong-cheun: The deputy Metropolitan Police commissioner's key accomplishments include being part of a team that arrested legendary criminal Kornprasert "Tee Yai" Changkhien and helping solve the case of a daring robbery of Khao Yai visitors in Prachin Buri in 1988.

Maj-General Sompong Khongpetch-sak: The deputy commissioner of Provincial Police Region 6's achievements include the crackdown on southern insurgency and the "War on Drugs". It could be said that his rise in the force was based on cracking down on underworld figures and gunmen for hire.

Maj-General Saritchai Anekwiang: The commander of Forensic Division 4 in Yala is most reknowned for his involvement in helping solve the murder of obstetrician Phassaporn in 2001 by her estranged husband Dr Wisut Boonkasemsanti.

Colonel Preecha Thimamontri: The chief of the Metropo-litan Police's Investigation Centre started a school to produce police investigators and stands out for the arrests of Sathit Setasunthorn and Son Thonglor, known as "Fat and Skinny", infamous for robbing beauty salons around Bangkok. He also tracked down the murderer of popular columnist and administrator Saengchai Sunthornwat.

Maj-General Kamronwit Thoopkrajang: A deputy Provincial Police Region 1 commissioner, is known as a "preventer" of all sorts of crime. He became an investigator along with Assawin and participated in many national cases, including the grisly murder of then-Yasothon governor Preena Lipattanaphan in 2001.

Colonel Prayont Laseu: Regarded as "skilled and experienced", particularly

in cases involving underworld figures and

gunmen, his arrests of gun-men on the CSD's blacklist

are most impressive. Most recently, he was instrumental in solving the murder of

Phrae provincial adminis-

tration organisation

president Charnchai Silpauaychai.

Colonel Chaiwat Ketworachai: The deputy CSD commander is highly rated

as a skilled investigator and a notable case was solving the failed car-bomb attack on former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.