The Anti-Money Laundering Office (Amlo) has seized assets worth more than 63 million baht from three gangs allegedly involved in human trafficking and the trade of Siamese rosewood.
Amlo officials are investigating the money trails of the suspects after discovering they own large amounts of cash and a number of vehicles.
It is believed they acquired these assets illegally, deputy Amlo secretary-general SuwaniSawaengphon said yesterday.
Two of the suspects — PhadungsakBunphinit and SutthiphongChuaiphat — have been accused of helping their gang traffic foreign labourers across international borders and violating money laundering laws in a bid to hide their cash.
Amlo officials seized 121 assets worth 31 million baht from Mr Phadungsak.
An initial investigation also found that the network is comprised of 45 people, which makes it one of the biggest gangs to emerge to date, according to authorities.
Another two criminal gangs were involved in the illegal logging of Siamese rosewood, known as phayung.
One of the gang members, Chiang Bunthima, has been accused by Non Din Daeng police of trading phayung trees in Buri Ram.
Amlo confiscated cars belonging to Mr Chiang and his accomplices worth four million baht, Pol CaptSuwani said.
A second suspect identified by Amlo as SeksanSison allegedly trades in phayung in Amnat Charoen with the help of his criminal gang.
Amlo officials seized 13 assets from the two men, including six-wheel trucks, backhoes and tractors worth a total of eight million baht.
Officers also found both Mr Chiang and Mr Seksan to have criminal records.
Officials are struggling to control phayung loggers, who usually smuggle the wood out of the country, despite a nationwide crackdown on illegal logging of the protected tree.