PATTAYA, Thailand – Crime Suppression Division officers have arrested a 33-year-old British national accused of supplying firearms to assassins involved in the fatal shooting of an Iraqi tourist in Phuket, in a case police believe is linked to an international drug trafficking conflict. The arrest was ordered by senior officers from the Crime Suppression Division and carried out at a condominium in Nongprue, Banglamung district, Chonburi province, May 15.
Police identified the suspect only as Amir, a British citizen wanted under a Phuket Provincial Court arrest warrant issued on February 12. He faces multiple charges, including supporting premeditated murder, illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, carrying weapons in public without permission, and supporting reckless gun use in a public area. The case stems from the February 7 shooting death of 24-year-old Iraqi tourist Ameer Munder Mahmoud Mamoud, who was gunned down on Sirirat Road in Patong, Phuket. Investigators later raided the residence of a Colombian suspect allegedly involved in the killing and seized two firearms, ammunition, a motorcycle, and clothing believed to have been used during the attack. Authorities subsequently arrested the alleged gunman, 39-year-old Colombian national Fernando Ested Guevara Sanchez, near Phuket International Airport while he was allegedly preparing to flee the country.
Police said expanding investigations revealed that foreign nationals were responsible for procuring and supplying the firearms used in the assassination. Investigators believe the killing was carefully planned and may have been ordered following a conflict tied to a major overseas drug trafficking network. Authorities tracked the British suspect to Pattaya, where he was allegedly hiding in a condominium before officers moved in to arrest him. Police also seized several items believed to be connected to the case. The suspect has denied all allegations during questioning and was transferred to Patong Police Station for further legal proceedings.
