Cyber police have arrested 186 people and seized 228 firearms, 1,294 rounds of ammunition and an improvised explosive device in a nationwide crackdown on illegal online gun trading.
Pol Maj Gen Thinnakorn Rangmat, deputy commissioner of the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau, said on Wednesday the operation involved searches at more than 200 locations, including 16 key targets across 12 provinces, as police targeted people suspected of illegally selling, possessing or modifying firearms through online platforms.
The seizures included 194 unregistered firearms and 33 registered firearms, along with 27 firearm components and the improvised explosive device.
Police traced suspects through Facebook, Shopee and LINE groups. In one case, officers identified a Facebook account advertising firearms in public groups. They arranged a purchase, leading to the arrest of a 41-year-old man in Chachoengsao with a .380-calibre semi-automatic pistol and two .38-calibre rounds.
A follow-up investigation led to the arrest of another man, who was allegedly selling two short-barrelled 20-gauge shotguns and a round of ammunition.
In Udon Thani, police arrested a 27-year-old man suspected of selling unregistered firearms and modifying blank guns to fire live ammunition. Five unregistered firearms and 72 rounds were seized.
The bureau’s fourth division arrested 32 people and seized 43 firearms and 79 rounds. Police traced one suspect through Facebook posts showing firearms and shooting videos before obtaining a search warrant for his home in Suphan Buri. Officers seized nine firearms, all with possession licences, for further examination.
The fifth division reported 33 arrests and seized 40 firearms, including one military-grade weapon, 563 rounds and one firearm component. One 28-year-old suspect in Saraburi was arrested with an unregistered Uzi 9mm submachine gun, one round of ammunition and 13 methamphetamine tablets.
Pol Maj Gen Thinnakorn warned that illegal firearm sales, possession, modification and carrying could lead to criminal offences and contribute to violence. He urged people to avoid buying firearms online and comply with firearms laws.