NAKHON SI THAMMARAT: A 63-year-old man has been arrested and six firearms with ammunition, numerous title deeds, cars and motorcycles seized during a raid on his house in Chawang district, Nakhon Si Thammarat on Wednesday morning.
Local police, armed with a search warrant issued by the Thung Song provincial court, searched the house in tambon Nakacha following an investigation into whether the house was operated as an unlicensed pawnshop and was used to store firearms.
The officers, led by Pol Col Chatupong Jaiklaew, chief of Mai Riang police station, seized six weapons, 15 rounds of ammunition, 30 title deeds, 14 motorcycles and a car from the house.
Pradab Ninprom, 63, the house owner, was taken to Mai Riang police station. He told police that he had long operated his house as a pawnshop, with local residents providing title deeds, weapons and vehicles to secure their loans.
The sluggish economy, coupled with falling rubber and oil palm prices, forced the locals to pawn their valuables with him to get money for daily expenses, he added.
Police said the seized items would be examined to determine whether the house owner had violated the law. The officers initially pressed charges of illegal possession of weapons against Mr Pradab. He was held in police custody at Mai Riang police station pending legal action.
Pradab Ninprom, 63, centre, points to title deeds, weapons and other items seized from his house in Chawang district, Nakhon Si Thammarat. (Photo by Nujaree Raekrun)