PATHUM THANI: Police called to remove a quarrelsome tenant from a rented house were surprised to also find a stash of illegal firearms, ammunition and a full range of gunsmithing equipment.
Pol Maj Gen Chayut Marayat, the provincial police chief, said Teerapat "Golf" Teepsawang, 30, was in possession of four M16 rifles, six home-made guns, three "blank" guns, 242 rounds of assorted ammunition, three steel pipes which could be used for making gun barrels, a lathe and other gunsmithing tools.
Mr Teerapat was charged with having illegal possession of military-grade weapons and illegally producing guns for sale.
They went to the rented house in Lat Lum Kaew district, tambon Khu Bang Luang, on Monday after receiving a call from the owner. The woman said she had previously asked Mr Teerapat to move out and he had became quarrelsome. She asked police to intervene.
Police were waiting at the house when Mr Teerapat arrived in a pickup truck. On seeing the police, he began acting strangely, Pol Maj Gen Chayut said.
They searched house, with the owner's permission, and found the M16 rifles, the other firearms and ammunition, and gunsmithing equipment.
Mr Teerapat allegedly admitted he bought M16s, which were military issue, from a man called Tae in Rayong province via a Facebook contact. He paid 8,000 baht each for them.
He repaired, refurbished and sold them for 30,000-40,000 baht each.
He allegedly admitted having also made guns himself and sold them at 10,000-15,000 baht each. The blank guns were bought via Facebook for 4,000-5,000 baht each, according to Pol Maj Gen Chayut.