The man, named as Amarin ‘Aek’ Khanitthanam, was taken into custody at an unregistered house in Moo 1, Thepkrasattri, at about 8pm last night (May 15), Thalang Police reported.
Police arrived at the home after a tip-off claiming that youths regularly gathered to take drugs at the house and that the man at the home (Amarin) also has a habit of carrying drugs and firearms.
When officers arrived in front of the house, they found that the front door was open with Amarin standing by.
The officers revealed themselves as police and began questioning Amarin, Thalang Police reported.
Amarin voluntarily admitted that he was in possession of firearms and ammunition in the home, and showed officers where they were kept.
He also voluntarily admitted to keeping firearms and ammunition behind another house nearby, and also showed officers where those were kept, Thalang Police said in their report.
Amarin had no previous criminal history, police confirmed, and no drugs were reported as found at the home.
One handgun Amarin bought about a year and a half ago. He paid B2,000 as it was not working. He and a friend fixed it, police said.
Another firearm he bought from a friend for B3,000 about three years ago.
More recently, for B3,950 he bought via Facebook one firearm along with three rounds of ammunition, which he received on May 9, police said.
The money for the gun was transferred from his Krungthai bank account to a Siam Commercial Bank account in the name of Ms Chonpreeya Nakwichet.
About a year ago Amarin bought another firearm from the same person via Facebook for B1,500.
Amarin had previously bought ammunition via the same person on Facebook. His most recent order was placed on May 11.
Reported as seized in the raid were:
- A ‘Thai-made firearm’ used to fire .38-calibre rounds, and a brown leather holster
- A Thai-made firearms made to fire shotgun cartridges, and a black leather holster
- Another, shorter, Thai-made firearm used to shoot .38-calibre ammunition
- A pen gun used to shoot .38-calibre ammunition
- Another Thai-made firearm (this one reported as ‘Cobra’) used to fire .32-calibre ammunition
- Six .38-calibre rounds of ammunition
- 18 shotgun cartridges
Amarin was taken to thalang Police Station and charged accordingly for illegal possession of illegal firearms , and illegal possession of ammunition.