NAKHON SI THAMMARAT, THAILAND – Police in southern Thailand seized military-grade weapons, grenades and drugs during a raid in Thung Song district that formed part of a wider crackdown on online arms and narcotics trafficking.
House raid uncovers weapons cache
The provincial police in Nakhon Si Thammarat reported that officers with a court-approved search warrant stormed a house in Moo 8, Thi Wang subdistrict, in Thung Song. Inside, investigators secured a substantial arsenal of weapons, ammunition and illegal drugs.
Military rifles, grenades and meth pills seized
According to police, the haul included two M16 A1 assault rifles, two M67 hand grenades, as well as several shotguns and pistols. Officers also confiscated more than 300 rounds of ammunition of various calibres and 80 methamphetamine tablets.
Four suspects arrested on multiple charges
At the scene, police arrested three men, identified as Pong, 25, Nat, 26, and Jor, 23. A fourth suspect, Nop, 29, was later detained with three methamphetamine tablets and charged with illegal possession of a Category 1 narcotic.
The first three detainees faced several counts, including illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, possession with intent to sell, carrying weapons in public without permission and possession of narcotics for sale. All suspects and the seized items were handed over to investigators at Kapang police station for further legal action.
Hundreds of drug cases in two-month sweep
Between 22 December of the previous year and 11 February, provincial police in Nakhon Si Thammarat reported 1,444 drug-related offences involving 1,478 suspects. During this period, officers seized more than 255,072 methamphetamine tablets, 2.78 kilograms of crystal meth and assets from drug trafficking worth around 14.4 million baht.
Online weapons sales probed in Bangkok
In a parallel investigation, officers in Bangkok arrested two suspects accused of modifying weapons and selling them online. The operation was triggered by tips from residents who said weapons and ammunition were being advertised on Facebook, including converted blank-firing pistols with ammunition offered at prices from several thousand to tens of thousands of baht.
Police underline priority of public safety
Police stressed that cracking down on illegal weapons and drug trafficking was a high priority in order to protect lives and property in the region.
“The current arrests are intended to send a clear signal to arms and drug dealers that online distribution and local structures will come under increased scrutiny.”
said police authorities, according to the reports.