Shell shock: Aussie man caught with a grenade at Phuket Airport

An Aussie man has landed himself in hot water after allegedly trying to board a domestic flight in Thailand with grenade launcher ammo and bomb parts stuffed in his suitcase.

The Thai police swooped on 61 year old Peter Davison at Phuket International Airport after stunned baggage staff uncovered a suspicious stash of military-grade weapon components hidden in his luggage.

The drama unfolded around noon on Monday, 6 May, when Phakhanat Dumlak, who was manning the oversized baggage counter at the domestic departures terminal, spotted something suspicious during a routine check.

Phakhanat alerted officers, who quickly called in Police Lieutenant Colonel Koraphum Photphongphaibun from Sakhu Police Station. Superintendent Colonel Salan Santisakul also raced to the scene as fears of a possible terror incident mounted.

Upon opening Davison’s black cloth bag, officers discovered what looked eerily like explosive devices, prompting an urgent response from Phuket’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit.

Inside the suitcase was a shocking arsenal:

• One 81mm grenade launcher shell

• One 60mm grenade launcher shell

• One landmine (type unknown)

• Two hemispherical bomb components

Davison was promptly arrested and slapped with charges of “possession of ammunition for which the registrar cannot issue a licence,” a serious offence under Thai law, reported Amarin TV.

The case has now been handed over to investigators for further legal action, with police yet to reveal how or why the Aussie had the war-grade hardware, or where he planned to take it.

In a bid to reassure the public, police emphasised that no one is above the law, even when it comes to foreign visitors.

And in a separate incident proving just that, another Australian tourist, 32 year old Daherwalid, was jailed for 15 days last week after being caught popping wheelies on a rented Honda Click in Phuket’s Rawai district.

Footage of the brazen stunt went viral online, sparking a swift response from Chalong Police, who tracked him down within 24 hours. The motorbike’s rental shop owner was also hauled in for questioning.

Police say the back-to-back incidents show they’re clamping down hard on reckless or dangerous behaviour, no matter where you’re from.

Davison, meanwhile, remains in custody as investigators try to get to the bottom of how a mini munitions depot ended up in an old man’s suitcase.