British men arrested for extortion in Thailand

Police arrested two Britons and a Thai government official today for alleged extortion, money-laundering and illegal land deals on the popular resort island of Koh Samui.

Authorities believe the two British men, identified as Peter Jones (aged 40) and Crispin Smith (aged 43) are members of a US-based transnational crime syndicate known as the Bandidos motorcycle gang, said police Colonel Piyawat Kingket, spokesman for Thailand’s Department of Special Investigations.