Police Confirm Seized Rifles from Chinese Suspect Are Not State-Owned

The Royal Thai Police announced on Thursday that they have seized two M4 assault rifles from the residence of Chinese suspect Sun Ming Chen, clarifying that these are not official government weapons. Forensic analysis revealed no tampering with serial numbers, but noted mismatched parts from different firearms, indicating they were custom-assembled rather than stolen from official arsenals.

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This finding comes amid a wider probe into Sun's financial dealings, uncovering his connection to an extensive network of over 600 Thai bank accounts. These accounts are linked to more than 4,000 online fraud cases with an estimated impact of 815 million baht. The investigation has led to seven legal cases and 11 arrests, including key members tied to a Cambodian call-centre scam operated by a figure known as ‘Lan Tian’.

Authorities are gathering further evidence to charge Sun and his associates with transnational organised crime and money laundering. These ongoing efforts emphasize the crackdown on a widespread fraudulent network.

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  Adapted by ASEAN Now · Thai PBS · 21 May 2026