DOPA's 'Eliminate Royal Leeches' busts gun trafficking, arrests officials

MGR Online•Society•1d ago

Reader Briefing

Thai authorities crack down on an international gun trafficking network involving forged documents and corrupt officials.

•The Department of Provincial Administration (DOPA) launched the 'Eliminate Royal Leeches' operation to combat gun trafficking.
•The operation targets former officials and volunteer force members involved in fraudulently obtaining over 400 gun permits, some using names of village heads and sub-district heads.
•Evidence discovered includes firearms, ammunition, and over 400 forged permit applications suspected to be used for smuggling weapons to neighboring countries.

Overview

•The Department of Provincial Administration launched the 'Eliminate Royal Leeches' operation.
•The operation aimed to investigate irregularities in gun permit applications (Por.3) that were not followed by official firearm licenses (Por.4) between 2022 and 2023.
•This situation led to suspicion of forged official documents and signatures for illicit gun purchases.
•The investigation resulted in search warrants for 2 locations and arrest warrants for 5 individuals by the Region 5 Corruption and Misconduct Court.
•Key arrested individuals include an acting administrator of Viang Haeng District and a Chiang Khong Volunteer Force member.
•Seized items include 3 rifles, over 200 rounds of ammunition, and more than 400 Por.3 permit applications.
•The network is believed to be involved in smuggling firearms and military-grade weapons to neighboring countries.
•The network allegedly used names and documents of local officials like village heads and sub-district heads without their knowledge to obtain permits.

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Key Quotes

Anurak Kosayodsilp (Director of Provincial Administration Department - Acting)

"Suspicious behavior that makes it credible that official documents or signatures may have been forged for illicit gun purchases."

พฤติการณ์ที่สงสัยและทำให้น่าเชื่อได้ว่าอาจมีการปลอมแปลงเอกสารราชการหรือลายมือชื่อเจ้าพนักงานเพื่อใช้ในการซื้ออาวุธปืนโดยมิชอบ

Key Entities

Organization

Department of Provincial Administration(กรมการปกครอง)ℹ️

The government agency that launched the 'Eliminate Royal Leeches' operation.

Region 5 Corruption and Misconduct Court(ศาลอาญาคดีทุจริตและประพฤติมิชอบภาค 5)

The court that issued arrest warrants for individuals involved in the gun trafficking operation.

Ministry of Interior(กระทรวงมหาดไทย)ℹ️

The ministry overseeing the Department of Provincial Administration and the gun permit system.

Place

Viang Haeng(เวียงแหง)ℹ️

A district in Chiang Rai Province where a former administrator was sought in connection with the gun trafficking operation.

Chiang Khong(เชียงของ)ℹ️

A district in Chiang Rai Province where a volunteer force member was arrested and where irregularities in gun permits were first detected.

Person

Apisit Chan-khum(นายอภิสิทธิ์ จันทร์คำ)

Former administrator of Viang Haeng District, sought in connection with the gun trafficking operation and previously dismissed for impersonating a foreigner.

Nattavut Wattanaphanan(นายณัฏฐวุฒิ วัฒนภานันท์)

A volunteer force member of Chiang Khong District arrested for collecting names and documents for gun purchase permits.

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior(ปลัดกระทรวงมหาดไทย)

The official overseeing the Department of Provincial Administration, who was involved in directing the operation.

Director-General of the Department of Provincial Administration(อธิบดีกรมการปกครอง)

The official leading the Department of Provincial Administration and involved in directing the operation.

Prime Minister(นายกรัฐมนตรี)

The Prime Minister whose policy the 'Eliminate Royal Leeches' operation was conducted under.

Law

Permit to purchase firearms or ammunition (Type Por.3)(ใบอนุญาตให้ซื้ออาวุธปืนหรือเครื่องกระสุนปืนส่วนบุคคล (แบบ ป.3))

The type of permit at the center of the investigation into forged documents for gun purchases.

License to possess and use firearms (Type Por.4)(ใบอนุญาตให้มีและใช้อาวุธปืน (แบบ ป.4))

The official firearm license that was not issued in many cases despite the issuance of Por.3 permits.