Police raided a hotel room in the Lat Krabang area, detaining four suspects and seizing 10 drones after learning it was the base controlling drones that caused widespread alarm at Suvarnabhumi Airport. The investigation is ongoing to gather further evidence and leads.
At 17:30 on 22 Dec 2025 GMT+7, Pol. Maj. Gen. Prasong Anmanee, Commander of Metropolitan Police Division 3, Pol. Col. Somkid Prachensuk, Superintendent of Lat Krabang Police Station, Pol. Col. Krit Komnoi, Superintendent of Investigation Division 3, along with investigation teams from both divisions, jointly searched a hotel near Suvarnabhumi Airport on Lat Krabang 30/4 Alley, Lat Krabang District, Bangkok.
Following information that the hotel was the control center for drones that caused panic at Suvarnabhumi Airport on the night of 21 Dec, authorities found four suspects: MR. ZWE HTET AUNG, 32, Myanmar nationality; MR. SA NAY LIN HTET, 24, Myanmar; MR. KYAW ZIN HEIN, 21, Myanmar; and MR. THEIN ZAW, 34, Myanmar. They seized 10 DJI brand drones. It was confirmed all had checked in on 21 Dec, with a Mr. David (surname unknown) having booked the room online.
During interrogation, the four suspects stated they were contacted by their Myanmar leader to wait in Thailand to receive drones for transport back to Myanmar. The drones were disassembled into separate boxes—not assembled—to allow transport on commercial flights. Each person was responsible for carrying 2-3 boxes. Upon arrival in Myanmar, the drones would be delivered to their leader, Mr. Kevin Cho, who operates a company there, and then sold to the Myanmar military.
Authorities confiscated all drones and handed them over to Lat Krabang Police for examination. They are awaiting Mr. Ratchaphol’s return from Oman to provide evidence to investigators. The police are also revoking the visas of the four Myanmar suspects under the supervision of the Immigration Division 1 chief. The suspects are held in custody for further investigation and case expansion.
Mr. Ratchaphol Porncheewachot, a native of Nakhon Ratchasima currently in Oman, stated he was contacted by his Myanmar friend, Mr. Kevin Cho, whom he knows from previous work at a company where he still works. Kevin Cho asked him to help purchase drones from a Thai company because the products are available and cheaper in Thailand, so he arranged to buy the drones from a company headquartered in Nonthaburi Province.
An inquiry with the company in Nonthaburi revealed that Mr. Ratchaphol had previously ordered drones 2-3 times, about 3-4 units each time. Most recently, he ordered 10 DJI FLYCart 30 drones, each costing about 500,000 baht, totaling 7.5 million baht including taxes. Mr. Ratchaphol transferred payment to the company’s account. The drones were scheduled for delivery on 18 Dec, but as he was unavailable that day, the delivery was arranged for 21 Dec. Later, the company received instructions from Mr. Ratchaphol to deliver the drones to the hotel, so they hired a private transport company to deliver the drones there.