A Colombian man was arrested yesterday in connection with the theft of Bt12 million in cash from a vehicle two months ago.
Police claimed that prime suspect Omar Giovanni Rodiguez Apote implicated two other gang members - compatriot Jose Miguel Samianto and Spaniard Antonio Raul Gomez - in the heist on April 4.
A fourth suspect, Wilson Faramento, of unknown nationality, has already been identified as the getaway driver and police are preparing to seek an arrest warrant for him.
Police were led to a hotel on Ramkhamhaeng Soi 65 by a tip from someone who had spotted Apote there and found him, with his dark hair dyed red, with a Colombian woman identified only as Maria.
Police seized Bt1.9 million in cash hidden in the ceiling of his hotel room.
Apote has been charged with burglary and is now in the custody of Lumpini police, along with Maria, who has not been charged with any offence.
On April 4, a Thai businessman withdrew Bt12 million from Krung Thai Bank's head office and left the cash in his pickup truck parked in front of the bank. Three foreign men smashed the window of the vehicle and stole the money.
Police said the gang had entered Thailand to rob customers of banks who took a long time making deposits and withdrawals at tellers' counters. They would follow their victims to their cars and make off with the money when they could.
However, police did not say whether this foreign gang was behind similar thefts committed by foreigners.