A young man and his teen brother have been arrested for making and selling guns online, with 28 home-made guns, more than 1,500 bullets and other items seized in Muang district of Chachoengsao province.
Sarawut Wanit, 23, of Bang Khla district, and his 17-year-old brother (name withheld), were arrested during a police raid on a commercial building in tambon Bang Phra of Muang district, Pol Maj Gen Theeradet Thumsuthee, investigative commander of the Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB), said on Thursday.
Mr Sarawut was initially wanted on an arrest warrant issued by the Chachoengsao Provincial Court for evading military conscription.
During the raid on Wednesday, police seized 28 home-made guns, 1,559 rounds of ammunition, 28 gun barrels and other items.
The brothers have been charged with colluding in having guns and ammunition in their possession without permission; and making, repairing and modifying guns or ammunition for sale without permission.
Pol Maj Gen Theeradet said police were alerted to a Facebook page called Khlang Saeng Dek Chang (technical college students’ arsenal) Facebook page. They found it was popular among gun buyers, particularly vocational and technical college students.
MPB investigators learned that the illegal guns were made in Chachoengsao and sold to young customers across the country, said Pol Maj Gen Theeradet.
When they went to Chachoengsao to gather information, they learned from the Facebook page about a gun-making site along the Bang Pakong River in Muang district of the eastern province. They later learned that a commercial building near downtown Muang district had been used as a gun-making factory.
When they raided the latter site, they found the two suspects making guns on the upper floorGuns, ammunition and other items used for making guns were found inside the building.
Gun parts are seized during a police raid on a building in Muang district of Chachoengsao province. (Photo supplied/Wassayos Ngamkham)
Pol Maj Gen Theeradet said the extended investigation showed that the brothers had sold over 1,000 guns before they were arrested.
During questioning, Sarawut confessed to all charges. He told police that he had completed Mathayom Suksa 6 but had not studied mechanics or related fields. He learned how to make guns by himself, and when he found he could they returned handsome profits he decided to make it his career. He posted the guns for sale via Khlang Saeng Dek Chang Facebook.
As his page was popular, he said, there were some fake Facebook pages using the same name. Those pages had duped people into sending money but did not deliver guns, he complained.
Mr Sarawut and his brother were handed over to officers at the Muang police station for legal action.