Pattaya, Thailand – In a dramatic operation on Friday evening, police in Chonburi Province raided a Chinese nationals’ residence near Pattaya after a car crash led them to discover military-grade weapons and explosives, uncovering what authorities described as a small-scale private arsenal and alleged plans for explosive suicide bombing style attacks using C-4, assault rifles, mines, and grenades.
At around 6:00 PM, Pol. Maj. Gen. Phongphan Wongmanithet, Chonburi Provincial Police Commander, along with investigators from the Provincial Crime Suppression Division, Immigration Bureau Region 3, Chonburi Immigration, and officers from Nong Prue and Huay Yai police stations, stormed a house at 45/90 The Maple Village, Moo 2, Huay Yai Subdistrict, Banglamung District.
The raid followed a report from Nongprue Police Station of a sedan accident in the Nongprue area. The driver was identified as Mr. Mingchen Sun, a 31-year-old Chinese national holding a Chinese passport and a pink Thai ID card. A 33-year-old Taiwanese woman was also in the vehicle. A full search of the car turned up illegal weapons, prompting officers to obtain a warrant and search the suspect’s nearby residence.
Upon entering the house, officers were stunned by the sheer volume of military ordnance. Items seized included:
– Four blocks of C4 plastic explosives (each weighing approximately 2 pounds / 1 kg)
– Multiple M67-style fragmentation grenades
– One modified K75 grenade
– One M4 assault rifle
– Hundreds of 5.56mm rounds, including M193 Ball ammunition marked with “LOT RTA” from the Royal Thai Army Ammunition Plant
– Four booby-trap “corn cob” style mines
– Three detonators
– Additional C4 blocks and loose explosives
– A total of around 10 hand grenades
– Remote detonators
In a particularly alarming find, police discovered a bulletproof vest rigged with C4 explosives and a ready-to-use detonation system, resembling a suicide vest. Officers immediately cordoned off a 100-meter radius around the property and called in EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) teams to safely secure and remove the devices. Residents in the immediate vicinity were temporarily evacuated for safety.
Further examination of Mingchen Sun’s mobile phone revealed disturbing content: videos of the suspect training with firearms and throwing grenades alongside Cambodian soldiers at the BHQ 911 Special Forces Camp (known as the bodyguard training facility for Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen’s forces). The phone also reportedly contained chats with ChatGPT in which he inquired about carrying out terrorist acts at important locations and the destructive power of C4 explosives.
During initial questioning, Mingchen Sun told police he had previously operated a liquor shop in Cambodia before moving to Thailand amid border issues. He claimed he purchased the weapons and explosives through a private LINE group, with pickup in Rayong Province, intending to use them for an individual public “suicide by explosion” event due to depression. He denied any terrorist motives or association to terrorist groups but this is under investigation.
Authorities also reported that the suspect had set up booby traps inside the house, including tripwires connected to grenade pins, a tactic commonly seen in action films.
As of 10:00 PM, the area remained secured while forensic teams continued processing the scene. The explosives and weapons have not yet been removed pending full documentation. Both Mingchen Sun and Ma Yu-Hsin are in police custody. Investigations are ongoing, with further charges expected.
Police have described the case as highly concerning due to the quantity and sophistication of the weaponry found in a residential area. Updates will be provided as more details emerge.
This is a developing story.
