BANGKOK: Thai police recorded 7,261 cases and seized 7,872 firearms during a 15-day nationwide crackdown targeting illegal weapons and unlawful sales both on the ground and through social media.
Pol Gen Thana Chuwong, deputy national police chief, presented the results on Wednesday (Aug 26).
The operation followed instructions from Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul to tighten firearms controls, close legal loopholes and intensify action against illegal guns, drugs and influential figures.
Running from August 12 to 26, the operation targeted firearms, military-grade weapons, ammunition, explosives and imitation firearms. It also focused on the illegal sale of firearms, military-grade weapons, ammunition and explosives both at physical locations and online through social media.
Police reported 7,261 cases during the operation. A total of 7,872 firearms were seized, comprising 711 registered firearms, 7,145 illegal firearms and 16 military-grade weapons.
On-ground enforcement accounted for 6,535 cases, with officers seizing 6,963 firearms, 59,632 rounds of ammunition and 340 explosive devices.
Within the on-ground total, police recorded 139 cases at roadblocks, checkpoints and inspection points, where 137 firearms, 628 rounds of ammunition and two explosive devices were seized.
Online enforcement resulted in 726 cases, with police confiscating 909 firearms, 2,620 rounds of ammunition and 40 explosive devices.
The wider operation also included a nationwide warrant sweep on August 18, resulting in the arrest of 752 suspects named in 752 arrest warrants.
Thana noted that the campaign had enabled police to seize a large quantity of firearms and other evidence. He thanked officers across the country for their commitment to the operation and their efforts to improve public safety.
He also encouraged members of the public with information or complaints concerning any type of crime to contact the 191 or 1599 hotlines, which operate 24 hours a day. - The Nation/ANN
