The Investigation Bureau of the Department of Provincial Administration clarifies that items reported as war weapons found at the rooftop gambling den in Phra Samut Chedi were in fact BB guns.
On 22 May 2026 GMT+7, reporters stated that the Department of Provincial Administration issued a statement regarding the discovery of firearms during a raid on the fourth floor of Chalermwong Hotel, Suk Sawat 80 Alley, Phra Samut Chedi District, Samut Prakan Province. The location was suspected to have been converted into a large rooftop gambling den openly defying the law. Upon investigation, officials found gamblers intensely betting around tables. Authorities detained a total of 55 suspects: 6 organizers and 49 gamblers (30 Thai men, 16 Thai women, and 3 foreign laborers). Confiscated evidence included large gambling tables divided into a 'tua' game area and a 'hi-lo' game area sharing the same table, with complete gambling equipment sets. News reports mentioned the discovery of concealed war firearms within the premises.
The Investigation and Legal Affairs Bureau (Firearms Licensing Division) clarified that upon reviewing the arrest records from the Department's law enforcement operations center, it was found that the objects identified as "war firearms" in the news were actually "replica long guns, specifically BB guns." These items only resemble real firearms externally. They are not war weapons and are not classified as firearms under Section 4(1) of the Firearms, Ammunition, Explosives, Fireworks, and Replica Firearms Act of 1947.