CHACHOENGSAO, Thailand – Under the leadership of Pol. Gen. Sakdisira Phueak-yam, Commissioner of the Tourist Police Bureau, along with other senior officers, a joint operation by the Tourist Police Division 1 (BKK.1) led to the arrest of a suspect, 37-year-old Khairuek Khomwan from Chachoengsao province, for the illegal possession and trade of firearms on November 14.
The arrest followed a tip-off from an undercover source who informed the authorities that a monk was involved in buying and selling firearms at a temple in Chachoengsao province. Acting on the information, plainclothes officers observed the suspect near the temple, sitting at a bench outside the monk’s quarters, waiting to complete a gun transaction.
When the officers approached and identified themselves, they found the suspect in possession of two homemade firearms: a .22 caliber pistol and a .38 caliber pistol, along with 23 rounds of .22 ammunition and six .38 caliber rounds. During questioning, Khairuek confessed that he intended to deliver the firearms and ammunition to a customer for 10,000 Baht but was apprehended before he could complete the sale.
Further investigation led the officers to search the monk’s quarters, where they discovered an additional firearm, a CLOT brand 11mm pistol, along with 25 rounds of ammunition. The suspect admitted to possessing the weapons and was charged with illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.
In accordance with protocol, the monk was formally defrocked by the temple’s abbot and the police proceeded to press charges. Khairuek confessed to the charges, and the case was handed over to the Bang Pakong Police Station in Chachoengsao for further legal proceedings.
