A Russian firearms dealer, linked to alleged weapons trafficking has been arrested in Thailand. The 27-year-old man had previously fled from an arrest whilst being monitored in Bangkok and hid in Phuket, the biggest island of Thailand.
Wanted for illegal possession of firearms investigators traced the wanted man to Phuket and arrested him on Wednesday August 13. Officers lured him to the Phuket Immigration office under the guise of routine reporting. The Russian man believed he was completing standard paperwork. He was then arrested and taken into custody.
The arrest, based on a Bangkok court warrant issued on July 31, is part of a nationwide crackdown on dangerous criminals using Thailand as a hub for illegal activities, especially firearms and drug trafficking.
Located in the centre of Southeast Asia, Thailand is a convenient location for traffickers to transport weapons, victims and illegal migrants to countries across the world.
“We will not allow criminals to exploit our province,” said the Phuket police commander.
The suspect denied all charges and was handed over to investigators for legal proceedings. Authorities will coordinate with the Russian Embassy to determine the next steps.
He was charged under Section 7 of the Act on Firearms, Ammunition, Explosives, Fireworks, and Imitation Firearms, which prohibits possession of a gun without permission. The offence carries a penalty of up to 10 years’ imprisonment, a fine of up to £454 (20,000 baht), or both.
Recently Phuket has become a key focus of the Royal Thai Police as local authorities step up efforts to crack down on illegal businesses run by foreigners in the province.
