Phang Nga: Phang Nga police have detained four men from southern border provinces for allegedly transporting war weapons to Phuket. The incident occurred yesterday evening when officials intercepted the suspects at the Wang Mo Kaeng checkpoint on the Phang Nga-Thap Put road in Tambon Thai Chang, Amphoe Mueang Phang Nga, Phang Nga Province.
According to Thai News Agency, the arrested individuals include Mr. Zul Affal, 28, from Narathiwat Province; Mr. Saowarus, 27, from Pattani Province; Mr. Abdul Romae, 49, from Pattani Province; and Mr. Faisal, 28, from Yala Province. The police were acting on orders from the commander to set up a checkpoint at the location, where they stopped a Pattani-registered car driven by Mr. Abdul Romae with Mr. Faisal as a passenger. A second vehicle, a Fortuner, was driven by Mr. Zul Affal with Mr. Saowarus in the passenger seat.
The officers, observing suspicious behavior, conducted a search of the vehicles. They discovered four AK-47 assault rifles, each with a barrel length of 369 mm, and a total of 54 rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition packed in a single cartridge. The weapons and ammunition were found concealed in a white sack behind the rear passenger seat of the Fortuner. The suspects confessed that their intended destination was Phuket Province.
The police have taken the suspects and the evidence to the Phang Nga City Police Station, where further legal proceedings will be carried out.