Mail-Order Grenade Ring Busted In thailand

A Thai military sergeant along with several other associates have been suspected by the Thailand police of selling grenades by mail after the military found eight M67 grenades in a courier in the capital Friday.

As many as 30 people are suspected of trading grenades by receiving orders from customers in various provinces, an official was quoted as saying by Bangkok Post Saturday.

An investigation led to the suspects after eight M67 grenades were found in two parcels at a Bang Khen district branch of Kerry Express in Bangkok. They had been returned there after employees could not find the intended recipient.

The sender's name was listed as Issarapong Prombutr. Soldiers later found that he was an innocent corporal whose name had been appropriated by the real sender.

“The real sender was an engineering sergeant in Bangkok who had stolen grenades from a Bangkok army unit with the intention of selling them.” The military official said.

1st army commander Apirat Khongsompong had ordered tough actions against any soldier behind the thefts and illicit grenade trade, and against any supervisors who failed to prevent the crime.

Commander-in-chief Chalermchai Sitthisat had ordered army units to cooperate with the police investigation into the grenade sales and check their weapons stocks, Army spokesman Col Winthai Suvaree said.

However, the authorities had not found any connection between the illegal grenade sale and three recent bombings in Bangkok, The spokesman said.