Chinese man arrested with gun, meth after 586-day overstay in Thailand

BANGKOK — A 50-year-old Chinese man has been arrested in Bangkok after police found a revolver and 4.8 grammes of crystal methamphetamine in his possession, while immigration records showed he had overstayed his permission to remain in Thailand by 586 days.

Police from Wang Thonglang Police Station arrested the man at about 16:00 on 23 September after receiving a report from a member of the public about a suspicious man sitting outside a hotel in Soi Lat Phrao 122.

The caller said the man appeared to be Chinese and resembled someone who had previously been seen carrying a firearm in the area, according to police.

Officers found the 50-year-old man outside the hotel and said he was unable to produce a passport. A search allegedly found a revolver hidden inside a black bag and a package of crystal methamphetamine weighing 4.8 grammes, including its packaging, concealed in a metal box along with drug-use equipment.

A preliminary urine test and subsequent confirmation at a hospital also detected drugs in his system, police said.

During questioning through an interpreter, the man allegedly told police that he had bought the crystal methamphetamine from a Chinese male acquaintance for 5,000 baht. He also claimed that another Chinese acquaintance had given him the firearm before he returned to his home country.

Police said they are investigating the people allegedly connected to the drugs and firearm.

An immigration check found that the man had remained in Thailand 586 days beyond his permitted stay, according to police.

He was charged with illegal possession of a firearm, carrying a firearm in a city or public place without reasonable cause, illegal possession of a Category 1 narcotic, drug use, and remaining in Thailand after his permission to stay had expired.

The man and the seized items were handed over to Wang Thonglang police investigators for legal proceedings and further investigation.