Thai police arrested another arms dealer who advertised his trade on the internet
Police have arrested another man for allegedly selling firearms online and confiscated a rifle, pistol and parts from an air pistol from his home in the Bo Klue district of Nan province.
Police claim the weapons are of the same type as those used at a recent anti-government demonstration in Bangkok.
A combined team of police and local officers from the Crime Suppression Division (CSD) arrested 46-year-old Warachart Pholchanthuek at his home in tambon Bo Klue Tai in Bo Klue District, Major General Suwat Saengnum said.
A CZ rifle, a 7.65mm Star pistol, two .22 pistols, 51 rounds of ammunition, 510 pellets for pneumatic (PCP) air rifles and 28 gun parts, as well as other items were seized.
Major General Suwat said there were many arms dealers online and this opens the way for criminals and people with bad intentions to acquire weapons. He had ordered them to be tracked down and arrested.
The CSD detectives found out that a PCP air rifle dealer was selling firearms through a Line chat group. Photos of compressed air guns and gun parts in the Line group were published to boost sales.
The detectives later identified the administrator as Warachart Pholchanthuek and obtained an arrest warrant from Nan Provincial Court leading to his arrest, the CSD chief said.
The suspect is said to have admitted to starting a closed group on Line to sell modified PCP rifles for 14,000-18,000 baht each.
He later changed his sales method to selling tickets that members bought for 350 baht each. The lottery numbers were entered in a draw and the winner received an air rifle.
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