Royal Thai Police Deputy Commissioner Gen Srivara Ransibrahmanakul and Region 8 Police Commander Maj Gen Tesa Siriwato were on hand to present the haul.
In the period between April 1-17, Region 8 Police, which comprises of seven of the 14 Southern Thai provinces; Phuket, Phang Nga, Krabi, Ranong, Chumporn, Surat Thani and Nakhon Sri Thammarat, seized 167 illegal firearms (two military weapon, 64 rifles, 101 pistols), 740 bullets and two explosive devices, and arrested 267 suspects with illegal firearms.
Other items seized which were on display at the press conference included 453,274 methamphetamine pills (ya bah), over 4 kilos of crystal meth (ya ice), over 5 kilos of marijuana and over 260 kilos of kratom.
In addition, during the campaign 623 people were arrested for drug offences, 775 on previously issued arrest warrants and 33 for for gambling.
Gen Srivara said at the conference, “Royal Thai Police has a mission to rid all drugs and crime in the country and have been working continuously. Warnings were sent to local officials to keep an eye out for those who intend to disturb the peace of the country especially in tourism areas that attract a lot of foreigners.
“We still have human trafficking issues in the country and we have not neglected this issue, officers have been making constant arrests. Now our focus will shift to international human traffickers in 22 coastal provinces,” he said.
“We are also cracking down on influential people such as those involved in loan shark businesses, illegal gambling, counterfeit goods, women and child trafficking, fraud and encroachment on public land etc.”