The suspect, named by police only as ‘Mr Kittiphon’, or ‘Tom’, had been evading capture for nearly two years by fleeing from Phang Nga to Phuket.
Kittiphon was apprehended in front of a rented house in Ratsada on Saturday (Aug 3), the CIB reported.
He was wanted on a warrant issued by the Phang Nga Provincial Court on Sept 8, 2022.
The case dates back to September 2022 when officers traced firearms used by teenagers in the Northeast back to Kittiphon.
The modified blank guns were being sold through Facebook live streams, prompting an investigation that led officers to a house in Tambon Na Toei, in Thai Mueang District, Phang Nga. During the search, authorities seized more than 100 firearms along with ammunition and imitation firearms.
Realising the police were closing in, Kittiphon fled before the search could be conducted. Evidence collected by the Thai Mueang Police Station led to an arrest warrant, but Kittiphon had already gone into hiding, the CIB said.
CSD Division 5 officers continued their investigation and eventually located Kittiphon in a rented house in Ratsada. A coordinated arrest followed, resulting in his capture and subsequent transfer to the Thai Mueang Police Station for further legal proceedings, the CIB report confirmed.
During initial questioning, Kittiphon confessed to all charges, said the CIB report.
Kittiphon revealed that he and an associate had modified blank guns to fire live ammunition, selling more than 300 units through social media platforms. Following the police raid, they parted ways and ceased their illegal activities.