Picture courtesy of The Phuket News

 

An Israeli tourist was arrested at Phuket airport after a routine security check revealed a loaded ammunition magazine in his luggage. The incident occurred at around 4:30 PM on November 6, when the terminal's security staff detected a suspicious item in a black suitcase. The 26-year-old traveller had arrived from Koh Samui on a Bangkok Airways flight, and subsequent inspection confirmed the presence of a 5.56mm ammunition magazine loaded with 29 rounds.

 

Lieutenant Colonel Wisanu Chalok of Sakhu Police Station was alerted, and further examination by Police Colonel Salan Santisasanakul's team led to the tourist's arrest. Charged with illegal possession of ammunition, a violation under Thai law, the tourist was informed of his rights and transferred to Sakhu Police Station for further processing. Authorities emphasized that no threats were posed and the case is purely about unlawful possession.

 

The Phuket Provincial Police Operations Centre acknowledged the arrest, refraining from speculation on the motive or potential additional charges. Ongoing investigations may involve deeper background checks and possible coordination with Israeli authorities. As of now, no statement has been released by the Israeli embassy in Thailand.

 

The suspect's intentions remain unclear, and with security measures being stringent, the incident highlights ongoing vigilance at airports. The examination of the case continues to ascertain any other legal implications. The police maintain a neutral stance on the potential threat, given no evidence suggests active intent to disrupt safety.

 

Key Takeaways

• An Israeli tourist was arrested for carrying a loaded ammunition magazine in Phuket.
• The traveller faces charges under Thai law for possession of restricted ammunition.
• Ongoing investigations could involve further scrutiny and involvement of Israeli authorities.

 

Related Stories:

Man Arrested for Selling Guns and Ammo Online from Home

Police Chief Orders Recall of Defective 9mm Ammunition

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-11-07

 

 

So Koh Samui security let him take it on board, well done chaps  😎

Naughty, naughty

 

Possessing illegal ammunition in Thailand can result in severe penalties for foreigners, including imprisonment from one to ten years and/or fines of 2,000 to 20,000 Baht for unlicensed possession. Carrying ammunition without a license for the specific firearm, or possessing prohibited ammunition, can lead to life imprisonment or even the death penalty, depending on the specific circumstances. It is also crucial to note that recent amendments to Thai law have restricted gun ownership primarily to Thai citizens. 

Obviously massively stupid if just a packing mistake, but as the article indicates his intentions matter, and as yet they are unknown. 

22 minutes ago, Jeff the Chef said:

Naughty, naughty

 

Possessing illegal ammunition in Thailand can result in severe penalties for foreigners, including imprisonment from one to ten years and/or fines of 2,000 to 20,000 Baht for unlicensed possession. Carrying ammunition without a license for the specific firearm, or possessing prohibited ammunition, can lead to life imprisonment or even the death penalty, depending on the specific circumstances. It is also crucial to note that recent amendments to Thai law have restricted gun ownership primarily to Thai citizens. 

Unless you're Israeli.

 

That's some serious ammo. Maybe for self defence after all the bad publicity.

 

5 minutes ago, Xonax said:

That's some serious ammo. Maybe for self defence after all the bad publicity.

 

.223 is hardly serious ammo... more for casual target plinking.

.223 Remington, or, more commonly known as 5.56mm is the standard "Assault Rifle" round used almost everywhere. It is indeed "serious ammo" accurate and deadly out to more than 1,000m in the right hands and rifle.  Having said that, finding an AR to use the mag/ammo in is an interesting challenge in Thailand.

19 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The 26-year-old traveller had arrived from Koh Samui on a Bangkok Airways flight, and subsequent inspection confirmed the presence of a 5.56mm ammunition magazine loaded with 29 rounds.

Says a lot for Koh Samui passenger search security.

He's not a tourist traveling around with a loaded magazine for an assault rifle !!

Jail and blacklist for life 👍

38 minutes ago, ronster said:

He's not a tourist traveling around with a loaded magazine for an assault rifle !!

Perhaps just a run of the mill MOSSAD agent.

Hmmm a bit on the fence on this one there is a bit of history on the bullet in your luggage scam but a full magazine is a difficult one to explain and not sure I would like to be the one trying to do it!
Unless he is some sort of IDF soldier on R+R  between deployments or something I think the boy may be in a bit of deep do-do !

I would be more interested about where in Koh Samui he has bought it or that means he has been carrying it around Thailand with him since he got here or we are back to the scam theory?

20 hours ago, JoePai said:

So Koh Samui security let him take it on board, well done chaps  😎

Yeah that's where it's a little fishy he's passed through security at Samui and stopped for a ''routine 'domestic security check where they just happen to find a loaded automatic magazine, as long as I have lived in Thailand I have never seen or heard of a domestic security internal spot check I am sure they do happen, International arrivals obviously on occasion.

20 hours ago, Jingthing said:

Obviously massively stupid if just a packing mistake, but as the article indicates his intentions matter, and as yet they are unknown. 

...........packing mistake

1 hour ago, Ralf001 said:

.223 is hardly serious ammo... more for casual target plinking.

I'm sure you've already tried this medicine on your own body.

Should have taken surface transport, shmuck.

 

Probably he is a soldier, and he forget this in the backpack. 

In Israel carry a weapon, and ammunition is not rare. 

Maybe if he is recognised, the best would be throw away. 

 

3 minutes ago, bogozy said:

Probably he is a soldier, and he forget this in the backpack. 

In Israel carry a weapon, and ammunition is not rare. 

Maybe if he is recognised, the best would be throw away. 

 

So why would he travel around Thailand with it and if he didn't get it here how did he get it into the country and probably onto a domestic flight after that .

5 minutes ago, bendejo said:

Should have taken surface transport, shmuck.

 

That's 1 day of your holiday gone but one less in jail I suppose 🤣

55 minutes ago, johng said:

Perhaps just a run of the mill MOSSAD agent.

How do you know that he isn't Palestinian?

10 minutes ago, bogozy said:

Probably he is a soldier, and he forget this in the backpack. 

In Israel carry a weapon, and ammunition is not rare. 

Maybe if he is recognised, the best would be throw away. 

 

Thus the packing mistake possibility.

12 hours ago, bogozy said:

In Israel carry a weapon, and ammunition is not rare. 

 

there must be soldiers patrolling the streets at all times, isn't there? 

 

 

5 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

How do you know that he isn't Palestinian?

Got my money on him not being Palestinian from a Photo of his ID card on Khaosod 🙂

2 hours ago, radjag said:

.223 Remington, or, more commonly known as 5.56mm is the standard "Assault Rifle" round used almost everywhere. It is indeed "serious ammo" accurate and deadly out to more than 1,000m in the right hands and rifle.  Having said that, finding an AR to use the mag/ammo in is an interesting challenge in Thailand.

 

I doubt finding an AR in Thailand is too challenging for the ne'er-do-wells that plan using them. I recall a news item last year that mentioned arms ammunition turning up missing at certain army camps.

NATO/IDF issued ammunition magazine  but also used in Thailand (loosely suggested by ChatGPT so definitely should be taken with a pinch of salt!!!)

What kind of idiot would do something like that?

13 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

 

I doubt finding an AR in Thailand is too challenging for the ne'er-do-wells that plan using them. I recall a news item last year that mentioned arms ammunition turning up missing at certain army camps.

 

Or you can buy all the AR15 clones you want can afford in the blocks and blocks of gun shops around Sam Yot MRT station in Chinatown. 

 

The prices are ridonculous, though.  And a lot of the shops have signs barring foreigners from even entering.  Can't say I blame them since there's no way they can make $$ on foreigners.

 

 

Did a travelling companion carry the gun for him?

19 minutes ago, RetiredNavy71 said:

What kind of idiot would do something like that?

 

Guilty as charged. 

 

I once forgot that I had a full magazine for my Beretta 9mm in my bag after driving all over the states on business.  It even made it past the TSA x-ray at SFO.  I found it, threw the bullets into the trash in a men's room and mailed the empty mag back to myself at a shop that actually did that for a living.  They mailed stuff for passengers that the TSA wouldn't allow.  That was a thing right after 9/11.

 

I did tell myself I'd fess up if they shut down the terminal if a worker found the shells in the trash.  But it turns out that happens all the time in US airports.

 

I'm glad I found it when I did.  I was on my way to Beijing.  That would have been tragic.