Huge weapons cache found lying in bushes | Bangkok Post: news

Huge weapons cache found lying in bushes

Authorities baffled about who owns arms

Authorities have uncovered a big arms cache of grenades and other heavy artillery in Surin, but don't know how the weapons arrived there, or where they were headed.


Officers from the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), the army and Border Patrol Police display war weapons seized in Surin’s Prasart district at the DSI headquarters yesterday. TAWATCHAI KEMGUMNERD

The seizure was made three months ago but was only revealed to the media yesterday, by DSI chief Tarit Pengdith.

The war weapons were seized in a joint operation involving the Department of Special Investigation, army rangers and the Border Patrol Police.

"We are trying to identify the people who hid the weapons there," Mr Tarit said. That's why we have only just told the media about it."

The investigators had hoped they would be able to arrest the gang and seize more weapons. Unfortunately, the traffickers appear to have halted their activities, he said.

Mr Tarit said the officers found a large cache of weapons hidden in bushes between shophouses in Prasart district, after learning about a recent arms delivery in the area.

They include 36 RPG-7 grenades, 36 RPG-7 launchers, 64 60mm rockets, 144 40mm rockets, and 1,437 rounds of .88 rifle ammunition. However, the team had not found any suspects.

Mr Tarit said he could not say how the weapons found their way there or where they were destined to be sent, but he is sure they had nothing to do with the street clashes in 2010.

"Nor are they connected to the explosions involving Middle East suspects in the Sukhumvit area on Feb 14," Mr Tarit said.