Bangkok: The Commissioner General of Police has instructed Deputy Commissioner Samran to expedite the crackdown and expand the investigation into the deadly Chinese weapons cache, emphatically stating that Thailand must not be used as a base for committing acts of terrorism. The Royal Thai Police (RTP) reports that, following an investigation by Police Region 2 into a car accident involving two Chinese nationals, a search of their home in Bang Lamung uncovered a cache of weapons, including bulletproof vests with improvised explosive devices (IEDs) intended for suicide attacks. Subsequently, a raid on a luxury residence in Huai Yai revealed a large arsenal of weapons, allegedly owned by a foreign national.
According to Thai News Agency, Police General Kittirat Phanphet, the National Police Chief, revealed that he had received a report on the case and assigned Police General Samran Nuanma, Deputy National Police Chief (Crime Suppression Division), who is responsible for security matters, to oversee the case. He also ordered the Region 2 investigation team to expedite and expand the investigation, focusing on the suspects, their backgrounds, travel history, occupations, and the source of the weapons - how, from whom, and by what means. The investigation should also include details of their phone contacts, bank accounts, and financial transactions. He instructed that the investigation be conducted decisively within the legal framework and that progress be reported until the entire network is prosecuted.
The Commissioner General of Police also reiterated that he has instructed Pol. Gen. Samran to receive information from the Immigration Bureau to categorize foreign nationals entering, leaving, and residing in Thailand who show significant irregularities, such as frequent entries and exits, and the length of each stay. This information will be forwarded to local police for investigation and categorization. The operation will involve intelligence gathering and thorough scrutiny of both the foreign nationals and their residences to prevent such incidents from recurring.