thailandedition
Police bust forged gun permit ring linked to former Chiang Khong official

Police bust forged gun permit ring linked to former Chiang Khong official

Matichon•Society•1d ago

Reader Briefing

Authorities have dismantled a cross-border arms trafficking ring operating in Chiang Rai, involving forged gun permits and former government officials.

  • •A major operation targeted a network distributing forged firearm permits (P.3) for illegal arms trafficking.
  • •The investigation uncovered a scheme where names of others, including government officials, were used to obtain permits.
  • •Key arrests include an auxiliary official in Chiang Khong, with an former deputy district chief being pursued.
  • •Over 400 forged P.3 permits were identified, indicating a large quantity of firearms entering the black market.

Overview

  • •Between 2022 and 2023 (2022-2023), abnormal firearm permit activity was detected in Chiang Khong District.
  • •Irregularities in the firearm purchasing system, where P.3 permits were issued but P.4 permits were not obtained, raised suspicion of forgery.
  • •The Director-General of the Department of Provincial Administration and the District Chief of Chiang Khong initiated investigations.
  • •An operation codenamed "Eliminating Royal Leeches" was launched by the Special Operations Unit of the Department of Provincial Administration.
  • •Two locations were searched, and arrest warrants were issued for five individuals by the Court of Corruption and Misconduct Cases Region 5.
  • •A key suspect, Nattawut, an Auxiliary Official (Os.) from Chiang Khong, was arrested at his home.
  • •Seized evidence included three rifles, over 200 rounds of ammunition (including .22 caliber and shotgun shells), and more than 467 P.3 permit documents.
  • •The network is believed to be involved in a large-scale cross-border arms trafficking operation, supplying firearms to neighboring countries.

Full article content is available on the original source.

Read on Matichon (Thai Version)View in Google Translate

Source: Matichon (Original)

Key Entities

Organization

Department of Provincial Administration(ปกครอง)
The governing body that ordered and executed the raid on the arms trafficking network.
Court of Corruption and Misconduct Cases Region 5(ศาลอาญาคดีทุจริตและประพฤติมิชอบภาค 5)
The court that issued the arrest warrants for the individuals involved in the corruption scheme.
Damrongdhamma Center(ศูนย์ดำรงธรรม)
A government center where the public can file complaints and report issues.

Person

Auxiliary Official(อส.)
An auxiliary official arrested in Chiang Khong for his role in collecting names and documents for forged P.3 permits.
Deputy District Chief of Chiang Khong(ปลัดอำเภอเชียงของ)
A former deputy district chief of Chiang Khong, whose network is implicated in the forged permit scheme.
Ansuchat Sampantarat(นายอรรษิษฐ์ สัมพันธรัตน์)
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior who ordered the operation.
Naruecha Khosasilvilai(นายนฤชา โฆษาศิวิไลซ์)
Director-General of the Department of Provincial Administration who oversaw the operation.
Ronnarong Thipsiri(นายรณรงค์ ทิพย์ศิริ)
Deputy Director-General of the Department of Provincial Administration who provided details about the investigation.
Virut Sittiwong(นายวิรุฬห์ สิทธิวงศ์)
Deputy Director-General of the Department of Provincial Administration involved in the operation.
Pol.Lt.Col. Singhkham Khamyod(ร.ต.ต.สิงห์คำ คำยอด)
Director of the Bureau of Investigation and Legal Affairs who issued orders for the operation.
Saksachai Rojjanarat(นายศักดิ์ชัย โรจนรัตน์)
Director of the Operation Unit for Law Enforcement of Officials of the Department of Provincial Administration, leading the task force.
Anutin Charnvirakul(นายอนุทิน ชาญวีรกูล)ℹ️
Prime Minister and Minister of Interior whose policy guided the operation.
Apisit(นายอภิสิทธิ์)
A suspect, former Deputy District Chief of Chiang Khong (currently assigned to Wiang Haeng), sought for arrest on charges of impersonation and involvement in the forged permit scheme.
Nattawut(นายณัฏฐวุฒน์)
An arrested Auxiliary Official (Os.) from Chiang Khong who collected names and documents for P.3 permits and was a subordinate of Apisit.

Place

Chiang Khong(เชียงของ)ℹ️
The district in Chiang Rai province where irregularities in firearm permits were first detected and where the operation took place.
Chiang Rai Province(จ.เชียงราย)ℹ️
The province where the cross-border arms trafficking ring was operating and busted.

Law

P.3 Permit(ใบ ป.3)
The permit required for purchasing firearms and ammunition, which was the subject of forgery and trafficking.
P.3 Permit Form(ใบแบบ ป.3)
The specific form used for applying to purchase firearms, which was found to be forged.
License to Possess and Use a Firearm (P.4 Form)(ใบอนุญาตให้มีและใช้อาวุธปืน (แบบ ป.4))
The permit issued after a P.3 permit, indicating legal firearm ownership, which was not consistently obtained in the fraudulent scheme.