BANGKOK, Thailand – Thailand’s police seized 7,872 firearms and made 7,261 arrests during a 15-day nationwide operation targeting illegal guns, ammunition, explosives and online weapons sales.
The operation, conducted from Aug. 12–26, covered both physical searches and investigations of illegal weapons trading through social media and other online channels.
Police said the operation resulted in 7,261 cases, with 7,872 firearms seized. These included 711 registered guns, 7,145 unlicensed firearms and 16 military-grade weapons. Of the total cases, 6,535 involved conventional weapons offences handled through on-ground operations. Officers seized 6,963 firearms, 59,632 rounds of ammunition and 340 explosives. A further 726 cases involved illegal weapons activity conducted online. Police seized 909 firearms, 2,620 rounds of ammunition and 40 explosives in these cases.
The operation also included a nationwide effort on Aug. 18 to arrest wanted suspects. Police reported that 752 arrest warrants were executed, resulting in the arrest of 752 people. Deputy National Police Chief Pol. Gen. Thana Chuwong said the operation had resulted in the seizure of a large quantity of weapons and other evidence, thanking officers involved for their efforts to improve public safety.
The operation followed instructions from Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul to strengthen controls over firearms, close legal loopholes and tackle illegal weapons, drugs and influential criminal networks. Police urged members of the public with information about criminal activity to contact the 191 emergency hotline or 1599 police hotline, both available around the clock.
