Thai Police Target 3 Suspects in Case of 25 Firearms Shipped to Moscow
BANGKOK — Thai police are moving to arrest three foreign nationals in connection with an attempted international arms shipment involving 25 semi-automatic firearms destined for Moscow, Russia.
The case was launched after employees at CDEK BKK, an international shipping company on Udom Suk 31 Road in Bangkok’s Phra Khanong district, discovered suspicious packages during routine inspections. The parcels, sent via local courier Lalamove, were found to contain firearms hidden inside microwave ovens.
The discovery was made just before 11 a.m. on July 25, when staff uncovered eight boxes packed with weapons. The company promptly notified Bang Na Police, triggering a full-scale investigation led by Police Lieutenant General Siam Boonsom, Metropolitan Police Commissioner.
Authorities confirmed the shipment included:
- 25 semi-automatic pistols, with 13 registered and 12 unregistered
- 19 complete firearms
- 2 pistols with mismatched serial numbers between barrels and grips
- 3 firearms with matching numbers, but disassembled into separate boxes
- 1 pistol with non-matching serial numbers split across boxes
- 5 silencers, 5 optical sights, 7 firearm components, 3 cleaning kits, and 1 instruction manual
The cache, hidden in standard consumer appliances, was addressed to a recipient in Moscow, suggesting the firearms were intended for criminal use or illegal resale abroad.
Police investigators quickly began analyzing CCTV footage from both the Udom Suk and Silom branches of CDEK.
Key footage includes:
- July 15, 7:03 PM: A bald man delivering a microwave box
- July 22, 12:39 PM: A man in a Toyota Altis delivering one microwave-labeled box
- July 22, 7:04 PM: A man driving a 4-door pickup truck dropped off two boxes labeled as a microwave and a grill
Additional suspicious deliveries were made at CDEK’s Silom branch:
- July 22, 3:06 PM: A woman delivered a box labeled “battery charger”
- July 23, 10:49 AM: Two men on a motorcycle dropped off three more “battery charger” boxes
On July 27, police confirmed they had successfully identified three foreign suspects, including one woman, involved in the arms smuggling operation. Officers are now seeking arrest warrants from the Bangkok South Criminal Court.
The suspects reportedly used false shipping labels and multiple delivery drop-offs to disguise the nature of the contents and avoid detection. Police believe the method points to a well-planned and coordinated trafficking network.
Authorities are expanding the probe to determine whether the suspects are linked to larger transnational arms smuggling rings or organized crime groups in Southeast Asia or Eastern Europe.
“This case is extremely serious,” said one senior officer. “Had these firearms reached their destination, they could have fueled further violence or illicit activity abroad.”
The police continue to collaborate with customs officials and international law enforcement to trace the supply chain of the weapons and determine the final recipient in Russia.
All items are now in police custody for forensic examination. Investigators are working to match serial numbers and identify possible links to other crimes or previous seizures.
The public has been urged to report any suspicious shipping activities or packages, especially when associated with international couriers or unusual labeling.
As the investigation intensifies, Thai authorities reaffirmed their commitment to tackling international arms trafficking and preventing the country from becoming a hub for illicit weapons smuggling.
