Undercover officers therefore posed as wealthy investors and attended a high-end automotive exhibition where the suspects were reportedly seeking potential victims. Police said the suspects approached the undercover officers and claimed they had earned money from illegal businesses overseas. The group told the undercover officers that the banknotes had been coated with chemicals and could be restored to normal. They claimed they needed 150,000 baht to pay customs officials to recover the cash and asked the undercover officers to provide the money in advance. According to police, the suspects promised the undercover officers 40% of the recovered funds in return for the payment.