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Pattaya Police Raid Illegal Gunmaker Boasting ‘100% Reliable’

Featured Replies

 

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Picture courtesy of Naewna

 

Police in Pattaya have arrested a 27-year-old man accused of manufacturing and selling illegal firearms, following a raid on his rented room in Bang Lamung district. The operation, carried out on 5 November 2025 by Pattaya police and district officials, uncovered several homemade guns and ammunition, leading to his immediate detention. Authorities say the arrest is part of an ongoing crackdown on illegal weapons in Chon Buri province.

 

The raid was led by Pol Col Anek Sratongyu, Superintendent of Pattaya City Police Station, and district official Nathaphop Yomjinda. Acting on a court warrant, officers searched a room inside Soi Kor Phai 14, Moo 12, Nong Prue subdistrict, after receiving reports that the suspect was producing and selling firearms to local youths. Inside, police found Chatchawan, also known as “M,” from Sisaket province, together with his girlfriend.


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During the search, officers seized three homemade guns, reportedly modified from blank-firing pistols, which were hidden beside the bed and in the bathroom ceiling. They also discovered 42 rounds of .380 mm ammunition, over ten spare gun barrels, and various workshop tools, including a drill press, grinder, vice, and metal files. These items were believed to have been used in the modification and assembly of the firearms.

 

Under questioning, Chatchawan confessed to producing and selling the weapons, claiming he had learned the techniques by watching online tutorials. He said he ordered tools and components from online marketplaces and sold the finished guns through the internet for around 13,000 baht each. He further boasted to police that his weapons were “guaranteed 100% functional,” asserting they worked like real firearms and confirming that several had already been sold.


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Police confirmed that all seized items, including the firearms and equipment, would be sent for forensic examination. Chatchawan has been charged with illegally producing and possessing firearms and ammunition. Officers stated that the arrest reflects an increasing trend of self-taught gunsmiths using online resources and e-commerce platforms to bypass weapon regulations.

 

Investigators are now tracking potential buyers who may have purchased the homemade guns. Authorities say the case highlights the need for tighter online monitoring and public awareness to prevent similar illegal activities. Chatchawan remains in custody while the case proceeds through legal channels.

 

 

 

Key Takeaways

 

• Pattaya police arrested a 27-year-old man for making and selling illegal firearms.

• The suspect admitted learning gunsmithing from YouTube and selling weapons online for 13,000 baht each.

• Police seized three homemade guns, ammunition, and tools, and are investigating possible buyers.

 

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Man-arrested-for-selling-guns-and-ammo-online-from-home

 

image.png  Adapted  by  Asean  Now from Naewna 2025-11-06

 

 

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Shame they blurred out the images of the guns. Perhaps there are Americans on the board who can comment on the viability of such weapons. 'Saturday night specials' come to mind. 

Midnight specials are not that hard to make.  caveat safe, reliable, firing pin, clip, springs or gas design flow etc.  Gosh single bullet firing guns have been around and made from simple tubes since day one.

one wonders where and if he test fires the guns he makes?  A friend at the local gun range?  I have not fired any guns over there but I know one or two of my friends have gone to a range or two

2 hours ago, flaming dragon said:

Shame they blurred out the images of the guns. Perhaps there are Americans on the board who can comment on the viability of such weapons. 'Saturday night specials' come to mind. 

Id have to see more pics to comment because the USA is a place where you dont see a lot of "homemeade" handguns. The use of .380 leads me to conclude these were blowback designs which would be easiest to make. I doubt they are worth a nickel past 10 feet. You sure wont have a problem with tolerance stacking on on of those thats for sure.

28 minutes ago, Yagoda said:

I doubt they are worth a nickel past 10 feet.

 

I think the official criteria is whether you can hit the guy on the barstool next to you.

 

29 minutes ago, impulse said:

 

I think the official criteria is whether you can hit the guy on the barstool next to you.

 

Banning guns like those increases the homicide rate.

The first thing that comes to mind if I wanted to make this type of weapon is a lathe with a high degree of precision, but here I only see cheap amateur equipment and there is no lathe.

4 hours ago, gk10012001 said:

Midnight specials are not that hard to make.  caveat safe, reliable, firing pin, clip, springs or gas design flow etc.  Gosh single bullet firing guns have been around and made from simple tubes since day one.

We used to make them when we were kids, twas a growing up phase.

 

Metal barel, 1 marble, 1 fire cracker, a sturdy brick fence to hold then against. 

Weren't very accurate.

 

9 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

Pattaya police arrested a 27-year-old man for making and selling illegal firearms.

Poor Tukta, he looks stressed. 

 

So many police. 😨

 

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52 minutes ago, Tubulat said:

The first thing that comes to mind if I wanted to make this type of weapon is a lathe with a high degree of precision, but here I only see cheap amateur equipment and there is no lathe.

 

If I was dumb enough to try to convert blank guns in Thailand, I'd farm out the serious machine work to a CNC contractor and stick to the simple stuff like assembly and sales.

 

I'm wondering where you'd even buy a legal blank gun in Thailand that you could reasonably convert.  I know where to buy airsoft and BB guns.  But not almost-functional blank guns.

 

5 hours ago, unblocktheplanet said:

Will he get time or just a fine? Finally, an example of Thai entrepreneurship!

Yeah, he actually took the time to study and learn how to make this online. Why didn't he do the same for something legal and constructive? 

Making a gun is not rocket science but it does take some learning. He could have applied his quest to learn something to advance in life. Now all he did was waste time preparing for prison. 

9 hours ago, carlyai said:

We used to make them when we were kids, twas a growing up phase.

 

Metal barel, 1 marble, 1 fire cracker, a sturdy brick fence to hold then against. 

Weren't very accurate.

 

haha.  We did something similar.  Used the little hollow metal tube that was part of our outdoor charcoal barbecue.  The tube held up the grill from the base of the bowl you put the charcoal in.  Did not think of putting a marble or something like that in, but we would put a second firecracker in after the first and see that launched into the air and then go off

15 hours ago, Tubulat said:

The first thing that comes to mind if I wanted to make this type of weapon is a lathe with a high degree of precision, but here I only see cheap amateur equipment and there is no lathe.

My neighbour had a small lathe in his workshop here... looked pretty capable of some precision stuff. 

18 hours ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

So many police.

Yet you hardly see any saving lives on the roads.

18 hours ago, carlyai said:

We used to make them when we were kids, twas a growing up phase.

 

Metal barel, 1 marble, 1 fire cracker, a sturdy brick fence to hold then against. 

Weren't very accurate.

 

Potato cannons. Nuff said.

 

Myself and some others built a legal Sten gun using a WW2 parts kit and a piece of pipe. 

9 hours ago, gk10012001 said:

haha.  We did something similar.  Used the little hollow metal tube that was part of our outdoor charcoal barbecue.  The tube held up the grill from the base of the bowl you put the charcoal in.  Did not think of putting a marble or something like that in, but we would put a second firecracker in after the first and see that launched into the air and then go off

Made similar but using metal bicycle pump barrel...bunger down the barrel / wick out the end...some paper wadding stuffed down the tube followed by marble...could do some damage (but what was danger or risky when you were a kid)..🤔

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