The National Police Chief declared a strict ban on using Thailand as a base for threats, ordering an operation to trace Chinese nationals hiding an arms cache. He commanded checks on the origins of the weapons and stressed continuing the effort to expand the investigation to the source of the arms and foreign networks.
On 9 May 2026 at the Royal Thai Police Headquarters, reporters were informed that the Region 2 police investigation team expanded their inquiry from an incident where a Chinese driver overturned a vehicle and was found carrying a handgun, leading to a house search in Chonburi Province. There, they discovered war weapons and bomb-equipped bulletproof vests prepared for a suicide mission. The house had been converted into a large arms storage facility owned by a foreign national.
Pol. Gen. Kittirat Punpetch revealed that he had received reports on the case and assigned Pol. Gen. Ek Samran Nuanma, Deputy National Police Chief responsible for security, to oversee the case. He ordered the Region 2 investigation team to expedite and intensify the inquiry.
The directive was to investigate thoroughly the suspect’s background, travel history in and out of the country, occupation, associates, and the origins of the weapons—how, from whom, and by what means they were obtained. The purpose of possessing the weapons, intended use, telephone communication contacts and methods, as well as financial accounts and transactions are to be examined. The investigation must proceed decisively within legal frameworks, with progress reports until the entire network is prosecuted.
The Police Chief also emphasized that Pol. Gen. Samran is to receive information from the Immigration Bureau to screen foreign nationals entering, leaving, or residing in Thailand who exhibit significant suspicious behavior—such as frequent entries and exits or prolonged stays each time. This information will be passed to local police for checks and sorting through intelligence operations and thorough screening of foreign individuals and residences to prevent recurrence of such incidents, the Police Chief stated.