Cyber police arrested a 39-year-old man in Amnat Charoen who manufactured firearms and posted them for sale online, with prices varying depending on options. He initially confessed, and authorities seized more than 20 items as evidence.
On 26 Jul 2026 GMT+7, Pol. Lt. Gen. Surapol Prembutr, Commander of the Cyber Crime Investigation Division, along with Pol. Lt. Gen. Naradet Thiprak, Commander attached to the Royal Thai Police Office on special assignment at the Cyber Crime Division, ordered Pol. Maj. Gen. Sila Kanjanrak, Commander of Cyber Crime Division 5, Pol. Col. Natthaphong Trongthieng, Superintendent of Investigation Unit 4, Cyber Crime Division 5, and the investigation team of Unit 4, Cyber Crime Division 5, to coordinate with Pathum Ratchawongsa Police Station officers to execute a search warrant No. K.22/2569 issued by the Amnat Charoen Provincial Court. They searched a house in Village 6, Na Wa Subdistrict, Pathum Ratchawongsa District, Amnat Charoen Province, and arrested Mr. Wanchai Phosap, aged 39, the homeowner.
They seized evidence including one homemade Thai bolt-action rifle of .22 caliber, over 10 rifled steel barrels of varying lengths sized .22 caliber, 50 rounds of .22 caliber ammunition, a mobile phone, various tools used to produce firearms, and firearm components such as trigger assemblies, trigger guards, sear bars, as well as another mobile phone, totaling more than 20 items.
Pol. Maj. Gen. Sila said the investigation began after the Cyber Crime Division 5's Unit 4 detected a personal Facebook account posting images boasting firearms the individual had manufactured, as well as covertly selling firearms and firearm parts online. The account used profile locking, avatar images, and posts selling firearms were deleted within three hours. Customers had to negotiate prices through private chat only. If it was learned that a customer or contact had been arrested, the Facebook owner would immediately close the account and reopen a new one under different names and avatars to conceal his identity, indicating a high level of caution.
After investigation, it was confirmed that the Facebook account belonged to Mr. Wanchai Phosap, residing in Amnat Charoen Province. Authorities gathered evidence, obtained a search warrant from the court, searched his residence, and arrested him with all seized items on 24 Jul 2026 GMT+7.
During interrogation, Mr. Wanchai admitted that he ordered parts and equipment from a Facebook seller to assemble .22 caliber bolt-action firearms. He recorded videos of himself shooting to demonstrate functionality before posting them on Facebook. He sold the firearms at prices ranging from 6,000 to 10,000 baht per unit depending on customer-requested options, making a profit of 1,000 to 1,500 baht per gun. For customers who requested only firearm parts or barrels, he produced them charging 500 baht per barrel.
He is being prosecuted on charges of "manufacturing, assembling, repairing, altering, ordering, importing, possessing, or selling firearms and ammunition for commercial purposes without authorization from the registrar" and "possessing firearms and ammunition without a license from the registrar." He has been detained with seized evidence to proceed with legal action.