Thailand –
Roughly one thousand illegal firearms and ammunition were seized nationwide last week in an overall crackdown that the Thai authorities called the ‘The Ghost Guns’ operation.
The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) revealed the news to the associated Thai media this weekend.
The CIB Commissioner Lieutenant General Jirapop Puridet told the associated press, “More than 1,000 officers have patrolled in 126 areas around Thailand over the past week, specifically looking for illegal firearms or firearms being used improperly.”
“We have arrested in total 51 suspects who are involved in illegal firearms, ammunition, and illegal drugs,” Jirapop stated, without releasing the complete list of those individuals arrested.
“In total 1,000 guns have been seized with 3,562 bullets. Of those guns, only 139 of them had licenses but were being used improperly, while 65 of them are completely illegal guns under any circumstance in Thailand without any ability to get licensed. The remainder were not licensed properly or being used by convicted criminals.” Jirapop stated.
“The items seized were mostly found in Bangkok, Chiang Rai, Nakhon Pathom, Suphan Buri and Pathum Thani.” Jirapop continued.
“We are continuing to crackdown on illegal firearms and guns in order to decrease crime in the nation,” Jirapop concluded.
It was unclear what would immediately happen to the weapons and firearms seized according to the CIB press conference.