PHUKET, THAILAND – Police on the holiday island arrested two young men wanted for attempted murder during a coordinated night-time raid in Thalang district.
Large-scale manhunt ends in arrests
Under the personal command of district chief Siwat Rawangkul, a large contingent of police officers, district officials and village security teams moved in on Tuesday night. Shortly after 9 p.m., the units struck in Sakhu subdistrict, leaving the two suspects with no chance to resist. Authorities said the operation resulted from close cooperation between multiple agencies and local residents.
Young suspects face serious charges
The detained men were identified as 21-year-old Manas Sakulchit and 25-year-old Chinapat Yodmani. They were wanted on charges of attempted murder with intent, along with a series of additional offences including illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, carrying a gun in public without cause, and firing the weapon indiscriminately in a residential area. Phuket Provincial Courts had already issued warrants for their arrest before the raid.
Homemade firearm and ammunition seized
During the arrest, officers discovered a dangerous find: a homemade firearm, a converted blank-firing pistol. Police also secured nine rounds of 9 mm ammunition, which investigators said could have caused fatal injuries. The suspects and the seized evidence were taken to Sakhu police station, where further investigations were under way.
Community support key to operation
District officials stressed that assistance from village headmen and the volunteer security team from Moo 1, Sakhu, was crucial to the success of the operation. They said the cooperation highlighted the importance of community solidarity in the fight against crime.
“The operation is part of our ongoing efforts to ensure public safety in the Sakhu area.”
said local authorities, in an official statement.
Signal for safety on the tourist island
Officials said the high-profile arrests sent a clear message to criminals on the tourist island that authorities would not relent. For both visitors and residents, the case was presented as reassurance that violent crimes involving firearms would be pursued vigorously. The detentions also underscored that Thai security forces remained vigilant beyond the island’s busy beach promenades.