11-4-2024 (BANGKOK) Authorities in Chachoengsao have dismantled an underground firearms operation run by two brothers, seizing a massive cache of homemade guns, ammunition, and gun-making equipment. The arrests of 23-year-old Sarawut Wanit and his 17-year-old sibling have exposed a thriving online black market catering to young customers across the country.
The dramatic raid unfolded on Wednesday in a commercial building located in the heart of Muang district, where the brothers were caught red-handed manufacturing illegal firearms. According to Pol Maj Gen Theeradet Thumsuthee, the investigative commander of the Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB), the haul included a staggering 28 homemade guns, 1,559 rounds of ammunition, 28 gun barrels, and an assortment of other incriminating items.
The operation was initially triggered by an arrest warrant issued by the Chachoengsao Provincial Court for Sarawut, who had been evading military conscription. However, as the investigation unfolded, a far more sinister web of criminal activity came to light.
Authorities had been alerted to a Facebook page titled “Khlang Saeng Dek Chang” (technical college students’ arsenal), which had garnered a sizable following among young gun enthusiasts, particularly those attending vocational and technical colleges. The page, operated by the brothers, served as a virtual marketplace for their illicit wares, attracting customers from across the nation.
“MPB investigators learned that the illegal guns were made in Chachoengsao and sold to young customers across the country,” Pol Maj Gen Theeradet stated, underscoring the far-reaching implications of the operation.
The trail led investigators to a suspected gun-making site along the banks of the Bang Pakong River in Muang district. Further intelligence gathering revealed that a commercial building in the heart of the district had been transformed into a clandestine firearms factory, prompting the decisive raid.
During the operation, the two suspects were caught in the act of manufacturing guns on the upper floors of the building. The substantial cache of guns, ammunition, and gun-making paraphernalia seized left little doubt about the scale and sophistication of their operation.
Pol Maj Gen Theeradet revealed that the extended investigation showed that the brothers had sold over 1,000 guns before their apprehension, highlighting the alarming proliferation of their illegal trade.
In a startling confession, Sarawut admitted to the charges, revealing that despite having completed his secondary education, he had no formal training in mechanics or related fields. Instead, he had taught himself the intricate art of gun-making, lured by the prospect of substantial profits. His illicit venture was facilitated by the “Khlang Saeng Dek Chang” Facebook page, which served as a virtual storefront for his wares.
Sarawut lamented that the page’s popularity had spawned numerous fake pages using the same name, duping unsuspecting customers into sending money without receiving any goods in return.
The brothers now face a slew of charges, including illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, manufacturing and modifying guns without permission, and conspiracy to commit these offenses.
