Cyber police arrested a gang selling illegal guns online, seizing weapons and ammunition as evidence. The suspects admitted to operating the business for several years.
On 12 March 2026, Pol. Lt. Gen. Surapol Prembutr, Commander of the Cyber Crime Investigation Division, together with Pol. Lt. Gen. Naradet Thiprak, Commander attached to the Royal Thai Police Office, and Pol. Maj. Gen. Komkrit Sukthai, Commander of Cyber Crime Division 3, ordered Pol. Col. Prasert Wangboonsang, Superintendent of Division 2, Cyber Crime Division 3, and Pol. Lt. Thanet Kalakul, Inspector of Division 2, Cyber Crime Division 3, to coordinate with cyber police and Investigation Division 4 to arrest Thawatchai Paengpeng, 35, Thanaphat Pitakjanakul, 41, and Apisit Siripraphan, 26, seizing 8 firearms and 153 rounds of various ammunition.
The investigation began when Cyber Crime Division 3 found a Facebook account posting firearms for sale. Police contacted the seller to arrange a sting purchase of a 9mm handgun for 12,000 baht. The meeting was set at a gas station in Muang Kao Subdistrict, Mueang District, Khon Kaen Province. At the agreed time, Thawatchai was driving the car, with Thanaphat and Apisit as passengers acting as lookouts to warn of police presence during the handover. All three were arrested along with the seized handgun.
Preliminary interrogation revealed that Thawatchai confessed to purchasing firearms from online websites at 6,700 baht each, then reselling them via Facebook groups for profit over several years. Thanaphat and Apisit assisted by acting as lookouts, monitoring for police presence and signaling warnings during gun transactions.
Police then searched Thawatchai’s apartment in Mueang Khon Kaen District, seizing an additional 7 firearms: 1 shotgun, 2 nine-millimeter pistols, 1 .38 caliber pistol, 1 modified pistol of unknown caliber, 1 short shotgun, and 1 long gun of unknown caliber, along with over 153 rounds of various ammunition.
All suspects face charges of jointly attempting to sell firearms and ammunition without permission, jointly possessing firearms and ammunition without authorization, and jointly carrying firearms in public places without permission or valid reason.