Bangkok police seized 173 illegal firearms and one bomb, and made over 2,200 arrests in the second week of September (Sept 7-16), the metropolitan bureau police chief announced on Monday.

Of the 173 firearms, three were war weapons (AKs or M16s), 41 registered guns, 42 unregistered and 87 home-made guns.

A total of 1,111 drug suspects were arrested, and another 1,115 suspects were arrested for other crimes.

In addition, 175 suspects with outstanding warrants were also captured last week.

Metropolitan Police Bureau chief, Pol Lt Col Kamronwit Thupkrachang said crime and criminal activities have been reduced by 50% since city police began the crackdown.

He believed the police are on the right track in their efforts to reduce crime and drug abuse in the metropolitan area.

“In the past three months, police have seized over one thousand guns, and as a result of this people and their property are safer,” he said. “Even though I was on an official trip abroad, police continued to do their job,” he added.