National Police Chief Somyot Pumpanmuang told reporters that the highest-ranking suspect, former Central Investigation Bureau chief Lt Gen Pongpat Chayapan, had confessed to all charges, including soliciting bribes for job appointments and allowing illegal gambling and oil smuggling.
He said a search of buildings belonging to the suspects arrested Sunday had turned up assets worth up to 10 billion baht (USD 305 million).
The suspects are alleged to have invoked claims of links to the royal palace in carrying out their wrongdoing, but Somyot declined to elaborate on the charges of lese majeste, insulting the monarchy.