A former Special Forces trooper was arrested by police after they found gun accessories and spare parts in his possession during a raid on his house in Muang district of the north-eastern province of Ubon Ratchathani on Thursday.
The raid was conducted by officers from the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) as part of the crime suppression campaign, particularly against hired gunmen, illegal firearms and dark influence, during the run-up to the May 14th general election.
According to CCIB police, they found a Facebook post by a trader named “Buk Sud Lor”, offering prop or pellet guns, modified to fire live rounds, for sale and sought a search warrant from Ubon Ratchathani Provincial Court to search the address given in the post.
Police found two gun boxes, gun spare parts and a small amount of methamphetamine in the room of the former Special Forces member, identified by police only as “Natnawat”, who was reported by his mother to be staying with his girlfriend at another house.
Police then went to the second location, where they found Natnawat. A search of the house uncovered a replica gun barrel and gun magazine and seven live bullets of unspecified calibre.
Natnawat is now being held in custody on charges of illegal possession of ammunition and narcotics.