National —
On October 12th, 2023, Pol Gen Torsak Sukvimol, commissioner general of the Royal Thai Police and relevant officers gave an official statement on a large-scale operation to eradicate illegal and improvised weapons users and dealers.
According to the Thai Prime Minister’s command and response to the Siam Paragon shooting incident, Pol Gen Torsak aimed to deploy forces to eradicate criminals. As a result, in 47 provinces across Thailand, there were 3,224 locations searched, 1,593 alleged suspects captured, 1,789 illegal and improvised firearms and 75,973 units of ammunition seized, and more illegal equipment confiscated.
Pol Gen Torsak also coordinated with relevant officials to shut down online websites and other social media platforms relating to illegal firearm deals. There were 79 Facebook accounts, 14 TikTok accounts, 148 Twitter/X accounts, 26 YouTube channels, and 14 Instagram accounts shut down.
Furthermore, during the conference, Pol Gen Torsak emphasized finding all criminals dealing illegal firearms very seriously without fail. He also asserted that with an increasing number of arrests, the severity of crimes and illegal activities would definitely be decreased. “This would build confidence in the safety of life and property for Thai citizens, foreign tourists, and international investors,” said Pol Gen Torsak.
