Cyber Police Disguise as Monk to Arrest Online Gun Dealer in Maha Sarakham

Picture courtesy of Amarin.

In an unusual undercover operation, cyber police officers disguised themselves as Buddhist monks to arrest the operator of a Facebook page selling illegal firearms online. The sting operation was part of an ongoing crackdown on the illegal arms trade across the country.

The arrest was announced at a press conference, on 13 May, on the ground floor of the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau’s Division 2 (CCIB), led by Police General Thatchai Pitaneelabutr, Director of the Police Cyber Taskforce, and Police Lieutenant General Trirong Phiewphan, Commander of the CCIB, alongside senior officials.

The operation stemmed from orders issued by Lt. Gen. Trirong, directing officers to intensify efforts to combat the online sale of firearms. Officers from Sub-Division 2, Division 3, CCIB, subsequently discovered that a Facebook user named “Do Thanased” was posting in public groups offering guns for sale.

Police Colonel Arunphan Vanichchanan, head of Sub-Division 2, authorised a covert plan, with Police Lieutenant Colonel Anothai Deeying and a task force coordinating with Region 4 investigators to carry out the operation.

An officer posed as a recently ordained monk participating in a traditional summer ordination programme and contacted the suspect to purchase a firearm for 22,000 baht. A meeting was arranged at a petrol station in Kosum Phisai district, Maha Sarakham province.

As planned, the suspect, identified as Mr. Jaruwat, arrived in a black pickup truck and contacted the undercover officer, instructing him to approach the vehicle. Upon confirming the presence of a genuine firearm, the monk gave a signal to officers lying in wait, who moved in to arrest the suspect.

A subsequent search uncovered three handguns: a black 11mm Colt semi-automatic pistol, a black 9mm Norinco semi-automatic pistol, and a white .22 calibre Astra Cadix revolver. Police also seized 20 rounds of 11mm ammunition and 50 rounds of 9mm ammunition.

Mr. Jaruwat was charged with multiple offences under the 1947 Firearms, Ammunition, Explosives, Fireworks and Imitation Firearms Act, including illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, and carrying weapons in public without permission.

The suspect confessed to all charges and is currently in custody awaiting further legal proceedings. Authorities affirmed their commitment to dismantling online weapons networks and bringing all those involved to justice.

  Adapted by Asean Now from Amarin 2025-05-14.