A foreign man was shot dead by police after opening fire during a standoff inside a cave in Sawi district, Chumphon, on 28 April 2026. Authorities said the suspect refused to surrender and fired a handgun at officers, prompting a return shot that killed him at the scene. The incident followed a manhunt linked to drug dealing, theft and violent assaults on local residents.
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The operation took place at around 12:30, when police, local officials, volunteers, prosecutors, medical staff and community leaders surrounded a cave in Moo 4, Thung Raya subdistrict. Officers secured the area and prevented public access while locating the suspect, believed to be hiding inside. Items found at the cave entrance included a black backpack, a machete, a cooking pan, a hat, a head torch, a mobile phone, three methamphetamine pills and a homemade single-shot .38 handgun with a spent casing.
Rescue teams faced difficulty retrieving the body due to the narrow cave entrance and a depth of about eight metres, compounded by lingering tear gas. It took more than 20 minutes to remove the body, with personnel wearing protective masks. The deceased, estimated to be aged 30–35, was found shirtless and wearing camouflage trousers, with a fatal gunshot wound to the chest exiting the back.
Investigators said the suspect, identified by Myanmar workers as an ethnic Karen, had a history of drug trafficking, theft and violent behaviour in the area. Two weeks earlier, he allegedly stole property and was linked to meth distribution, frequently carrying a firearm and intimidating villagers in Moo 6, Thung Raya. A subsequent search of a hut uncovered 170 meth pills and seven rounds of .38 ammunition, though the suspect had already fled.
Police also linked him to three break-ins at Thai homes in Moo 4, where occupants were assaulted. Community leaders had warned residents via social media and organised searches after finding signs of campfires near the cave. When authorities confirmed his presence, a special operations unit moved in, attempting negotiations before deploying tear gas to force him out.
SiamRath reported that officials said the suspect fired one shot at police during the operation, leaving officers no choice but to return fire. The case is being treated as a justified use of force, with the body sent to Sawi Hospital for a detailed post-mortem. Authorities continue to review evidence and coordinate with relevant agencies.
Pictures courtesy of SiamRath
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Adapted by ASEAN Now SiamRath 29 Apr 2026