Chinese Embassy issues statement on arrest of Chinese man and seizure of major arms cache in Pattaya

The Embassy of China in Thailand has issued a statement regarding a Chinese national arrested in connection with a large cache of illegal weapons discovered in Chonburi province.

The suspect, identified as 31-year-old Ming Chen San, was involved in a road accident in Sattahip district and, when officers searched his vehicle, they found a firearm and several fully loaded magazines, leading to a raid on his rented property in Huai Yai sub-district in Bang Lamung district.

There, the police allegedly discovered a large cache of weapons and explosives in the possession of the suspect. They included two M4 carbines with 13 fully-loaded magazines, ten hand grenades, two Glock26 semi-automatic handguns, a 2.4kg pack of C4 high explosive, two sticks of dynamite, four Soviet-designed POMZ-2 stake-mounted anti-personnel landmines, several electric blasting caps, two gas masks, body armour vests and four 20-litre cans of benzine.

In its statement, the Chinese Embassy said that relevant authorities are looking into the suspect’s background and reiterated that Chinese citizens abroad are expected to comply with local laws. The embassy also stated that China would not protect its citizens involved in criminal activity overseas.

The Chinese Embassy in Thailand added that Chinese authorities support Thai law enforcement in handling the case through legal channels and pledged its continued cooperation with Thai agencies in efforts to combat transnational crime.