Bangkok (VNA) – The Royal Thai Police (RTP) announced on August 26 that a ten-day nationwide sweep this month netted more than 5,200 suspects in over 6,300 cases linked to illegal firearms and explosives.
Pol. Gen. Thanayut Wutthijarasthamrong, a special adviser to the RTP, told a press conference that the operation, under the theme “Suppressing Criminals, Protecting Good People”, was conducted nationwide from August 15 to 24. It aimed to curb the possession and sale of illegal firearms and explosives to prevent their use in crimes. It also targeted the arrest of long-wanted criminal suspects.
Police reported 5,261 arrests across 6,338 cases involving illegal firearms and explosives. Among the seizures were 293 guns, 11,458 rounds of ammunition and one homemade ping-pong bomb linked to online sales. In addition, police confiscated 6,218 other guns, 36,718 rounds of ammunition, and 6,359 bombs—including 1,898 military-grade grenades—as well as 4,461 pipe bombs and ping-pong bombs in non-online cases.
As part of the effort to apprehend wanted criminals, 14,639 suspects were arrested under 20,030 arrest warrants issued between October 1, 2004 and the present, Thanayut added.
He also urged the public to report crimes or suspicious activity by calling the hotlines for their safety./.
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