Cyber police arrest two for purchasing guns online in Thai sting

Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) officers arrested two customers who bought guns online from a factory in Phichit province. The arrest followed an undercover operation where police pretended to buy through a popular YouTube channel after allegations of threats to a family were made today.

Colonel Worawat Watnakorbuncha, Commander of the Special Operations Division (SOD), ordered Police Lieutenant Colonel Nipon Boonkeut, Commander of the SOD 2, to lead the 4th Police Battalion, SOD 2, armed with a Nonthaburi Provincial Court search warrant number 996/2566. They searched a house in Bang Khu Rat Subdistrict, Bang Bua Thong District, Nonthaburi Province.

There, they detained Nuttachai (last name withheld), along with a .38 calibre Ruger revolver, 42 rounds of .38 calibre ammunition, and one 12 gauge shotgun bullet.

Next, armed with Nonthaburi Provincial Court search warrant number 999/2566, officers searched another house in Bang Kruai Subdistrict, Bang Kruai District, Nonthaburi Province. They arrested a 16 year old boy, Korn (pseudonym), along with a homemade pen gun, six .38 calibre bullets, and four .38 Super bullets.

CCIB officers arrested the two customers who bought guns online from a factory in Phichit province, following an undercover purchase through a popular YouTube channel, reported KhaoSod.

The investigation stemmed from the 4th Police Battalion, SOD 2, finding that guns and ammunition were being sold online. They investigated a YouTube channel named Veerisak Samathi where an undercover agent contacted to buy 9mm bullets for 1,600 baht and arrested the suspect with a pen gun and gun modification equipment in Thap Khlo District, Phichit Province, on November 4.

The investigation expanded to those who bought guns or ammunition from the shop. They discovered Nuttachai had ordered guns and ammunition and specified a delivery address in Bang Khu Rat Subdistrict, Bang Bua Thong District, Nonthaburi Province. Therefore, they gathered evidence and requested a search warrant from the Nonthaburi Provincial Court for the search.

Upon questioning, Nuttachai admitted receiving the gun from a friend but ordered the bullets online, although he could not remember the name of the shop. Meanwhile, Korn admitted to ordering the pen gun from a shop in Phichit province for 1,900 baht per tube for self-defence following a friend’s warning of threats from a rival group to his family.

Initially, the officers charged them with possessing firearms and ammunition without permission. Nuttachai was handed over to the inquiry officer of Bang Bua Thong Police Station, while Korn was handed over to Bang Kruai Police Station to proceed with legal action.