SUSPECTED RING LEADER OF WAR WEAPONS SMUGGLING GANG NABBED BY POLICE

>> Police have arrested a man suspected of being behind the smuggling of war weapons from Cambodia into Thailand, with Cambodian police arresting three more suspects involved in the operation.

Patchara Jaitiang was arrested early Friday morning in Khun Yuam district of Mae Hong Son.

Thai police on Tuesday arrested five suspects caught smuggling grenade launchers and explosives into Thailand in two public passenger vans.

The seizure included two 82mm grenade launchers, a 81mm grenade launcher and three 82mm grenades.

Deputy national police chief Srivara Ransibrahmanakul said the five suspects identified Mr Patchara as the person who ordered the weapons to be smuggled into the country, but he has denied the allegations.

The police have evidence to suggest Mr Patchara was behind this operation and the court has approved an arrest warrant for him, Pol Gen Srivara said.

Police have evidence that he hired a group of smugglers to take the war weapons into Thailand after having successfully completed a similar run once before. However, it was unknown where the weapons were due to end up, if it was Thailand or elsewhere.

On Friday, police in Battambang province, Cambodia, arrested three Cambodian nationals in Samphao Lun district thought to be linked to the weapon-smuggling operation.

An investigation has so far found the weapons were smuggled from Cambodia via Pai Kiaw village of Aranyaprathet district in Sa Kaeo province.