Thread: 63-year-old New Zealand expat arrested in Phuket with 26 guns, 11 grenades, and many

A 63-year-old New Zealand expat has been arrested in Phuket with 26 guns, 11 grenades, and many bullets.


The Region 8 Police told the Phuket Express that they have arrested Mr. Gareth Alan Davies, 63, a New Zealander, at a house in Soi Bae Hua in Kathu district this morning (November 7th).


Seized from him inside the house were seven rifles including an AK and M16, 19 handguns, 11 grenades, and many bullets.

He was taken to the Kathu Police Station to face charges of illegal possession of firearms, grenades, and ammunition. His plea to the charges was not immediately made.

Immigration officers told the Phuket Express that Mr. Davies had legally lived in Thailand for 23 years. He was married to a Thai woman, Ms. Pannee Chanbamrong, for 20 years before she passed away five years ago.


Mr. Davies was disabled and unable to walk since five years ago after prior work-related injuries led to his disability. He was later treated at a private hospital in Phuket. He has no family or relatives in Thailand.


He was previously legally employed as an engineer at drilling barges in the sea in the southern part of Thailand. He retired at the age of 55. He stayed legally in Thailand with a retirement visa until November 2023 and had not been on any blacklist or watchlist and no prior legal issues in Thailand.

Mr. Davies nor police released any immediate statements on why he may have had the collection of weapons or how police discovered them.


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What was that guy doing with so many rifles and pistols? Collector maybe? However, any number of grenades puts him in the "WTF" camp.

Maybe he decided to supplement his retirement income by arms dealing.

Probably not quite right in the head, living alone in Thailand, wife dead etc...

Originally Posted by panama hat

Probably not quite right in the head, living alone in Thailand, wife dead...

...Welshman with a kiwi passport...etc

Originally Posted by misskit

Gareth Alan Davies

Didn't even notice that . . . quite a Welsh combination, isn't it.

Originally Posted by happynz

What was that guy doing with so many rifles and pistols? Collector maybe? However, any number of grenades puts him in the "WTF" camp.

Dealing.



NZ Herald:

A New Zealand expat in Thailand has reportedly been arrested and accused of taking part in a gun-trading business. An arsenal of guns, grenades and firearm components were allegedly seized at a Phuket property and Gareth A. Davies was arrested.

Thailand Posts said the stash included seven long-barreled firearms, with AK and M16 models, 19 short-barreled firearms, 11 explosives, and “a large number” of ammunition of various sizes, in addition to weapons modification equipment. The Thai media outlet said custom-made gun components were also seized, as were suppressors (commonly known as silencers).

From Thailand Postsen news

Provincial Police Region 8 forces raided the residence of a former engineer and found a small armoury - pistols, rifles, explosives, suspected of being traded. The Kathu Police Station Superintendent led the investigation targeting customers who bought firearms and ammunition in the Provincial Police Region 8 area. From the investigation, they were able to gather evidence for permission from the court to issue a search warrant. It is believed that the foreigner may be involved in the sale of firearms using online media.
it was found that the house was being used as a place for modification and production of firearms as well as equipment for testing firearm sound suppressors.



No one pointing, but a wild guess the man with the blanket over his knees could be Mr Davies

Originally Posted by prawnograph

No one pointing, but a wild guess the man with the blanket over his knees could be Mr Davies

His leg looks quite bad . . . similar to a friend of mine here who had a stroke. Not a good situation to be in all alone in a 'foreign' country.

Has anyone stopped posting as of today?

Originally Posted by panama hat

His leg looks quite bad . . .

I hadn't noticed, but yeah, that's a really swollen leg.

Originally Posted by happynz

I hadn't noticed, but yeah, that's a really swollen leg.

Pic from Matichon news

"Medical treatment with Bangkok Hospital Phuket, collected by an ambulance"

what's the prediction - he wouldn't do well in a Thai prison with his health conditions - can they simply convict and deport with no imprisonment here (if found guilty?)

Originally Posted by DrWilly

Has anyone stopped posting as of today?

Great poser Willy, so it's not us. Perhaps storage for Auckland axis ANT-HAT Sin Aloner cartel gang?

How else was the guy supposed to keep the kids off his lawn?

I'm going with a fake photo. None of the police are pointing. Sherlock Cow on the job.

Originally Posted by DrWilly

Has anyone stopped posting as of today?

Originally Posted by prawnograph

can they simply convict and deport with no imprisonment here (if found guilty?)

No, you have to serve your sentence, then you're deported and blacklisted. I feel vindicated now, I actually know someone that was more foolish than I.

Originally Posted by DrWilly

Has anyone stopped posting as of today?

I've seen his name on our fantasy football leagues in the past. He's in the SZ league this season.

"Basically he was a stupid farang that should have known better"

Well that was pretty fucking obvious from the start.