Thai police have taken into custody more than 60,000 suspects, on charges related to firearms and illegal narcotics, during a nation-wide crime suppression campaign, which began on October 10^th, ahead of the APEC Summit in Bangkok on November 18^th and 19^th.

Police also seized 5,345 illegal firearms, 936 licensed guns, 36 war weapons, 4,342 explosive items and 37,045 rounds of ammunition of various calibres.

The national police chief, Pol Gen Damrongsak Kittipraphat, said today (Tuesday) that the massive crackdown was part of the precautionary measures ahead of the Summit, even though police have not received any intelligence about potential incidents during the event.

He said that security has been beefed up at all borders, including natural border crossings and on routes leading to Bangkok. The Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre, which is the official venue of the summit, and hotels, where leaders of foreign governments will be staying, have also been placed under tight security, he said, adding that protests in these areas will be prohibited and traffic is to be restricted.

The police chief also said that the metropolitan police have conducted drills for motorcade security for foreign leaders, as he assured that they are more than 80% ready for the task, with the final drill on the handling of terrorist attacks scheduled for Friday.

Of the 60,000 suspects in police custody, 10,450 of them face firearms-related charges and 43,027 face drug charges. 9,255 are suspects in old cases against whom arrest warrants have been issued.

Regarding the firearms-related cases, the police chief singled out the case of “Veerayuth” (surname withheld), owner of the Charoen Airsoft 4289, who allegedly sold BB guns as well as modified BB guns, which can be used to fire real bullets, online.

He said that police have raided 209 workshops, allegedly involved in the modification of BB guns, and arrested 54 suspects, seized 110 modified BB guns, 11 explosive items and a large haul of ammunition.