The arrests took place during a routine patrol led by Pol Lt Sunthon Phetsangk, Deputy Chief of Investigation at Wichit Police, last night (July 16).
Officers were carrying out crime suppression duties along Sakdidet Rd in Moo 1, Wichit, when they encountered the pair and discovered the explosives.
One of the suspects was identified as from Kantang, in Trang Province, and the other from Sai Khao Subdistrict, Khlong Thom District in Krabi Province.
Police found the pair carrying a shoulder bag containing four homemade ‘grenades’. The youths were taken into custody and taken to Wichit Police Station for questioning.
During interrogation, one of the teenagers reportedly confessed that the explosives were intended for use in an attack against rivals. However, the plot was foiled before it could be carried out.
The suspects have been charged with illegal possession of explosives for which no licence can be issued under Thai law.
Wichit Police Chief Pol Col Somsak Thongkliang praised his team for their vigilance and revealed that police had recently intensified patrols in the area to prevent violence involving local and outside youth gangs.
He said officers had also been instructed to crack down on both small- and large-scale drug activity in the subdistrict.
“The investigation and patrol teams have been working efficiently and have made a number of arrests recently,” said Pol Col Somsak.
Police have not released further details on the source of the explosives or the identity of the intended targets, but investigations are ongoing.