In less than a week, Provincial Police Region 1 officers have confiscated 200 illegal guns and arrested 667 suspects in nine provinces, according to Pol Lt Gen Ampon Buarabporn, commissioner of the area.
Provincial Police Region 1 covers nine provinces in the Central region, among them Lop Buri where a man shot three people dead while robbing a gold shop in January.
Following the mass shooting in Nakhon Ratchasima, the Royal Thai Police announced a crackdown on illegal gun ownership which began last Thursday.
Pol Lt Gen Ampon said in just four days officers have raided 102 locations, arrested 667 suspects and confiscated 200 unlicensed firearms.
Meanwhile, police in Uthai Thani are searching for a prolific online gun dealer after arresting one of his customers in Ban Rai district.
Prapat Thanasang, 24, was collared yesterday morning at his home where police found a .38mm locally made gun and seven bullets.
The suspect told investigators that he had paid 15,000 baht for the weapon to a gun dealer named Mr Uan via his Line group titled "Sor Tor Note" (Capt Note).
Police found the dealer had sold over 800 firearms using the Jiraprawat Military Base Postal Office in Nakhon Sawan but have yet to apprehend him.
