Thai police seize illegal assault rifles and homemade guns in separate raids

Thai authorities have conducted separate operations resulting in the seizure of numerous illegal firearms in Ayutthaya and Chon Buri provinces.

In Ayutthaya, police from the Metropolitan Police Bureau arrested a suspect identified as Kanawat in the Nakhon Luang district. During the raid, officers recovered ten unregistered military-style assault rifles, twelve magazines, a registered hunting rifle, three handguns, and one revolver. Over one thousand rounds of ammunition were also seized. The suspect allegedly claimed to have smuggled the weapons from abroad using false commercial shipping declarations.

In the Sattahip district of Chon Buri, police arrested 54-year-old factory worker Manit Jaengsaeng following reports of him intimidating colleagues with a firearm. A search of his person, vehicle, and residence uncovered nine homemade firearms, including .38-caliber pistols, 9mm pistols, .22 rifles, and various pen guns. Police also seized 76 rounds of mixed-caliber ammunition. The suspect stated he manufactured the weapons due to a personal interest in firearms.