More than 80 M16 assault rifles in Korat went missing since 2013-2014

[webfact]

More than 80 M16 assault rifles in Korat went missing since 2013-2014

KORAT: -- Security officials in Nakhon Ratchasima (Korat) are investigating a huge cache of assault rifles which went missing since 2013-2014 from the armory of a local territorial defense volunteer corps under the supervision of the Ministry of Interior.

The investigation was ordered by the governor of Nakhon Ratchasima province, Thongchai Lue-adul, after more than 80 M16 assault rifles went missing.

Suspicions are that high ranking government officials are involved in the matter.

Prapas Raksasap, the assistant governor of Nakhon Ratchasima province, has confirmed that a number M16 assault rifles under the care of the 1st Nakhon Ratchasima territorial defense volunteer corps have gone missing.

In all, more than 80 of the assault rifles are unaccounted for and as of the present orders have been issued to all defense volunteers in 32 districts to report their weapons so that an accurate tally can be made.

Preliminary inquiries indicate that the weapons went missing between 2013 – 2014 and there are strong indications that senior government officials under the Local Administration Department at both provincial and central levels were involved.

Meanwhile Goveror Thongchai Lue-adul said that the incident occurred before he took office and he has ordered that an immediate investigation to be carried out.

A complaint has been filed with the police and the 3rd Region Police have been given the responsibility for carrying out the official investigation.

Tracking down the weapons has been given the highest priority and anyone found to be involved with the loss will face criminal charges and disciplinary action, he said.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/more-than-80-m-16-assault-rifles-in-korat-went-missing-since-2013-2014

-- Thai PBS 2015-06-11

[BSJ]

Obviously the Quartermaster at the "1st Nakhon Ratchasima territorial defense volunteer corps" needs to be looked at closely to.

[halloween]

Check all the local pawn shops. The volunteers might have solved a temporary cash flow problem, or not.

[Toknarok]

So these 80 rifles now join the millions of illegal firearms awash in this Country. Nothing surprising here.

[NeverSure]

These are fully automatic "machine gun" weapons of 5.56 NATO caliber which is very common in Thailand.

[Tatsujin]

This is gonna be interesting to follow ... did anything come of the investigation of all the military hardware stolen just prior to the 2010 "protests"?

[Local Drunk]

I wonder how many rounds of ammunition went missing with them?

[smedly]

So these 80 rifles now join the millions of illegal firearms awash in this Country. Nothing surprising here.

so they went missing during the PDRC peaceful demonstrations in Bangkok and senior Government Officials were involved ............................................ keep an eye on the airport departure lounge

[smedly]

This is gonna be interesting to follow ... did anything come of the investigation of all the military hardware stolen just prior to the 2010 "protests"?

yes the PTP government ordered an intense far reaching investigation - it is still ongoing in one of Tarits old filing cabinets in the very low priority/missing cases drawer

[smedly]

I wonder how many rounds of ammunition went missing with them?

I have a good idea where they might be found

[janpharma]

Perhaps the local responsible could spend some more time doing his job instead of chasing women...