Homemade firearms seized in Ratsada raid

A Phuket Provincial Administration special operations unit seized four homemade firearms and ammunition during a raid in Ratsada, Phuket, authorities said.

The operation was carried out at about 4:25pm as part of instructions to inspect high-risk areas and prevent the carrying and possession of firearms. It was led by Phuket Provincial Defense Officer Akkra Suwattikul, assisted by provincial defense officers Jiradech Burarak, Thongchai Rattanedech and Panjapong Boonchan, along with other members of the unit.

The seized weapons comprised a homemade break-action shotgun chambered for 12-gauge ammunition, a homemade break-action firearm chambered for .38-calibre ammunition and two homemade pen-style firearms. One pen-style firearm used .38 and .380-calibre ammunition, while the other was chambered for .22 LR rounds.

Officers also seized eight 12-gauge shotgun rounds, one .38-calibre round, two .380-calibre rounds and 11 rounds of .22 LR ammunition.

The suspect was initially charged with possessing firearms without a licence and possessing ammunition without a licence under Section 7 in conjunction with Section 72 of the Firearms Act B.E. 2490 (1947). Authorities said they would consider an additional charge under Section 8 bis in conjunction with Section 72 bis if the investigation establishes that the suspect carried a firearm in a city, village or public place without a licence and without reasonable necessity or urgency.

The suspect and the seized evidence were handed over to the investigating officer for further legal proceedings. The man is an accused person and is presumed innocent unless found guilty by a final court judgment.

The report also said separate police and local-authority drug operations across Phuket on 17-18 August resulted in at least four arrests and the seizure of 978 methamphetamine pills, about 53.7g of crystal meth and two homemade firearms.

In Patong, police arrested a man in a hotel room on Phra Baramee Road on 17 August, seizing 903 methamphetamine pills, about 11.73g of crystal meth and B70,000 in cash. In Wichit, officers arrested a 25-year-old man identified as Nattapol and seized about 42g of crystal meth.

A checkpoint and drug-screening operation in Srisoonthorn, Thalang, on the evening of 18 August found no illegal items during searches of people and vehicles, but random urine tests identified 15 people who tested positive for drugs. A follow-up investigation led to two further arrests and the seizure of 75 methamphetamine pills, one homemade firearm and one shotgun round.