BANGKOK, Nov 8 — Thai police have arrested more than 60,000 individuals in a nationwide firearms and drugs crackdown leading up to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) meeting in Bangkok.
The operations began on October 10 and ended today ahead of the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week (AELW) held in Bangkok from November 18 to November 19.
National police chief Pol Gen Damrongsak Kittiprapat said police arrested 10,450 individuals and seized among others 5,345 illegal firearms, 936 licensed firearms, 4,342 explosive items and 37,045 rounds of ammunition of various calibers.
He said more than 43,027 individuals were nabbed on drug charges while 9,255 wanted suspects were also arrested.
“The massive crackdown is one of the precautionary measures to beef up security ahead of Apec meet to build public and international community confidence,” he said in a statement today.
Thailand, the Apec chair this year, is to welcome the leaders and representatives from 21 economies.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and US Vice-President Kamala Harris are expected to attend the summit in Bangkok.
Besides that, three non-member countries have also confirmed they will attend.
They are Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen as the current chair of Asean, and French President Emmanuel Macron.
— Bernama
