CHIANG RAI – Thai authorities have launched a massive security operation named “Khachat Lueap Ratsasi” (Expelling the Corrupt Lions). The targeted crackdown has successfully disrupted a powerful transnational gun-running network operating along the country’s northern borders.
The illegal operation allegedly specialized in exploiting local weapon registration systems. They turned official state documents into a golden ticket for international arms smugglers.
The Department of Provincial Administration uncovered major flaws in the local firearms registry. Investigators found a surprising spike in the number of Por 3 permits issued in the Chiang Khong district of Chiang Rai.
A Por 3 form acts as an official government green light, allowing an approved buyer to purchase a personal firearm or ammunition. However, a massive number of these permits were never converted into Por 4 licenses, which are the final documents required to legally own and use a weapon.
Instead of going to residents, these permits vanished. Investigators say they were used to buy bulk firearms that were immediately smuggled across the border into neighboring countries.
According to official updates from the Ch7HD News report, Singhakam Kamyod, the Director of the Bureau of Investigation and Legal Affairs, teamed up with Sakchai Rojanarat, the head of the Civil Service Enforcement Operations Center. Together, they led a specialized task force to raid key locations across Chiang Rai and nearby provinces.
Meet the Key Suspects Behind the Ring
The operation uncovered an organized criminal network split into distinct roles. The group relied on financial backers, document forged handlers, and crooked local insiders. Police have issued five major arrest warrants so far, spotlighting two central figures:
- The Mastermind (Ex-Official): Apisit, a 42-year-old former deputy district chief of Wiang Haeng. Popularly known as “Palat Ole,” he had already been removed from government service due to previous misconduct. He remains on the run, but police report they are closing in fast.
- The Inside Man: Natthawut, an active defense volunteer (Or Sor) working in the Chiang Khong district. He allegedly used his position to gather identity documents and forge applications for real citizens without their knowledge. Authorities arrested him directly at his Chiang Rai home.
How the Identity Theft Scheme Worked
The network targeted everyday citizens to fuel their black-market pipeline. This structured approach allowed them to bypass traditional background checks:
- Stealing Identifications: Local handlers collected copies of house registrations and identification cards from villagers under pretenses.
- Falsifying Approvals: The corrupt insiders used these stolen identities to file fraudulent Por 3 gun purchase applications.
- Siphoning Weapons to the Black Market: Once the district office granted the permits, the syndicate bought the firearms directly from distributors. They skipped the final registration process entirely and smuggled the weapons across the border.
This network did more than just break local laws; it created a major security threat for Southeast Asia. Transnational arms trafficking feeds regional conflicts, arms organized militias, and strengthens violent drug syndicates operating throughout the Golden Triangle.
By taking down this inside operation, Thai law enforcement has cut off a primary source of clean, untraceable weapons entering the black market.
The Department of Provincial Administration is currently auditing firearm registries across every northern border district. Officials aim to find and close any similar administrative loopholes before other criminal networks can exploit them.
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