Region 4 police launched a pre-election crackdown by searching the home of a man in Muang Phon, seizing blank guns along with abundant ammunition. He admitted ordering them online for collecting due to personal interest and insisted he never fired them anywhere.
At 14:30 on 3 Feb 2026, Police Major General Phumiphat Patrasriwongchai, Commander of the Region 4 Police Investigation Division, along with Police Colonel Phongrit Kongsirisombat, Deputy Commander of Region 4 Investigation, and Police Colonel Peerachat Sakha, Chief of Phon Police Station, led officers from Region 4 Investigation and Phon Police investigation team with a search warrant to inspect a target house under the directive of Region 4 Police ordering all local forces to conduct targeted searches ahead of the election.
Officers from Region 4 Investigation used the search warrant to inspect the home of Mr. Chawalit, 27, in Phon District, Khon Kaen Province, due to suspicion that illegal items were concealed there. Intelligence indicated the homeowner liked to order firearms online. The search uncovered 7 homemade guns, 276 rounds of .380 ammunition, 9 rounds of .38 ammunition, 9 rounds of 9mm ammunition, 51 shotgun shells (size 12), 13 gun barrels, 7 blank guns, 286 blank gun rounds, and 7 gas-powered guns (air guns and pistols).
The Region 4 Investigation Commander said that Region 4 Police ordered all 12 provinces to conduct searches and arrests ahead of the upcoming 8 Feb parliamentary election to prevent potential dangers. Initial questioning revealed Mr. Chawalit has liked guns since childhood. As a teenager, he sold goods outside a factory to help his mother and saved money to order various blank guns and parts online, costing 6,000-8,000 baht each depending on the model, for collection based on his interest. He claimed he never fired or practiced shooting anywhere, only kept and handled them at home.
Officers then took Mr. Chawalit and the seized items to the Phon Police Station to press charges for possession of firearms and/or ammunition without a license, and for manufacturing, modifying, or repairing firearms without authorization. Investigations will continue to identify and prosecute those selling firearms online under the law.