A large quantity of war weapons were found on a beach in Khlong Yai district of Trat province bordering Cambodia and recovered by a navy patrol early on Sunday, Rear Admiral Siriboon Sukhonthaman, deputy commander of the Chanthaburi-Trat Defence Force, said.
Rear Admiral Siriboon said that early on Sunday a patrol of the 182nd Marine Unit led by Commander Butserichai spotted a pick-up truck moving away from Sarapatpit Beach in tambon Hat Lek in a suspicious manner and at the same time heard the noise of a long-tailed boat speeding off the beach.
The patrol went to the beach and found a large number of war weapons left on it.
They were eight M16 rifle, two RPD round-magazined machine guns, one M79 grenade launcher, one RPG-7 rocket launcher, 12 magazines for M16 ammunition, one magazine for AK47 ammunition, two round magazines for RPD machinegun ammunition, and 3,240 rounds of AK47 ammunition.
Rear Admiral Siriboon said it was believed the weapons had been smuggled into the country from across the border but not known whether any Thais took part in the smuggling.
Senior navy officers and police inspect war weapons found on Sarapatpit Beach in Chanthaburi's Khlong Yai district early Sunday (Photo by Jakkrit Waewkraihong)