Routine Emissions Check Turns Dramatic
A standard environmental inspection in Bangkok takes a wild turn. Officers, led by Police Colonel Siam Boonsom, stop a bronze Isuzu pickup on Ramintra Road, Khan Na Yao, on October 2, 2025.
The driver, 41-year-old Phinu, looks visibly nervous. He suddenly tries to make a run for it. But police act fast—he’s caught within moments.
Suspicious Behaviour Leads to Shocking Find
Phinu’s jittery reaction raises alarm bells. Officers decide to search the vehicle thoroughly.
What they discover is astonishing: a 9mm CZ75 semi-automatic pistol, wrapped in a pink cloth, wedged between the seat and seatbelt slot. The gun has no serial number and is loaded with an 11-round magazine.
Drugs Hidden Under the Seat
But the surprises don’t end there. Under the driver’s seat, police find a brown leather shoulder bag.
Inside are eight packets of crystal meth, weighing a total of 4.2 grams, and four more bags containing 35 methamphetamine tablets. The haul is enough to send shockwaves through the team.
Confession and Drug Test Confirm Guilt
During questioning, Phinu admits everything. “The gun and the drugs are mine,” he confesses.
A urine test confirms he’s been using drugs. The picture of a repeat offender quickly emerges.
Facing Serious Charges
Now, Phinu faces a string of charges. Illegal possession of a firearm, carrying a weapon in public without cause, and possession of Category 1 narcotics—methamphetamine and crystal meth.
The consequences in Thailand are severe. Long prison sentences loom for such offences.
Environmental Check Proves Its Worth
Phinu, along with the seized gun, ammunition, and drugs, is handed over to investigators at Bang Chan Police Station.
Officers praise the sharp-eyed team who turned a routine emissions check into a major crime bust. “This shows how vital these checks are for public safety,” one officer remarks.
Routine controls, meant to curb pollution, end up stopping crime in its tracks. For Phinu, the fallout is just beginning. Will this dramatic arrest send a warning to others on Bangkok’s busy streets?
