BANGKOK, Thailand – The Royal Thai Police (RTP) has ordered a nationwide crackdown on illegal firearms, unregistered weapons, and unauthorized gun carrying, with officers instructed to target unlawful sales and remove illegally held weapons from circulation. Deputy Commissioner-General of the Royal Thai Police Pol. Gen. Thatchai Pitaneelaboot has directed officers to address factors that can lead to violence, including domestic disputes, community conflicts, and violence in educational institutions. Police will also monitor cases involving people with psychiatric symptoms who may pose a risk of violence. Domestic violence cases involving criminal offenses are to proceed through legal channels rather than rely primarily on mediation.
Authorities are set to increase searches for firearms linked to narcotics offenses and pursue the illegal sale and manufacture of weapons through online channels. Police will coordinate with online platforms and use technology to detect unlawful transactions, identify sellers, and trace suspected gun networks. Pol. Gen. Thatchai also ordered equal enforcement of firearm laws regardless of status, including against politicians, influential figures, and police personnel. Officers who unlawfully possess or carry weapons outside their official duties could face criminal and disciplinary proceedings, while other offenders will be prosecuted under the same laws. (NNT)
