Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul on Monday signalled that Thailand’s visa-free entry policy could face a fresh review, following the arrest of a Chinese national allegedly linked to an illegal arms network in Pattaya.
Mr Anutin said the scheme would need to be reassessed through consultations among relevant agencies, with the government seeking to balance economic and tourism benefits against national security concerns.
“Visa-free entry does not mean allowing people to enter without conditions,” he said. “Before this policy, many people questioned why Thailand did not offer visa-free access. Now we must find the most appropriate balance.”
The prime minister also pushed back against calls for sweeping changes to the policy, cautioning against drawing broad conclusions from isolated cases.
“Do not let a few bad cases undermine the entire system,” he said, adding that millions of foreign visitors enter Thailand legally each year without causing problems.
His remarks followed police charges against five Thai suspects, including two active-duty navy officers and a former serviceman, after weapons were found at the Chinese suspect’s residence in Chon Buri province.
Mr Anutin said the government remained vigilant and had stepped up scrutiny of foreign nationals, nationality transfers, and civil registration procedures in the wake of the case.
He also dismissed speculation that citizenship had been granted to individuals connected to the investigation, saying authorities had found no evidence to support such claims.
The prime minister added that he had instructed national police chief Pol Gen Kittharath Punpetch to urgently expand the investigation into the source of the weapons and any wider network involved.
Police said the five Thai suspects had been charged with possessing and selling firearms that cannot legally be licensed. All denied the allegations and were released pending completion of the case file.
The suspects were identified as naval military policeman CPO1 Methee, former serviceman CPO1 Pathompong, PO1 Watcharin, shooting range trainer Kachen, and Chamlong, who allegedly provided a bank account used to receive payments linked to the arms transactions.
The arrests followed the detention of Chinese national Sun Mingchen, 31, after a car accident in Bang Lamung district on Friday. A search of the overturned vehicle uncovered firearms, prompting further investigation.
Officers later discovered a cache of military-style weapons at Mr Sun’s residence, including assault rifles and C4 explosives.
Investigators said Mr Sun had met Mr Kachen at a shooting range in Pattaya and allegedly asked him to procure an M16 rifle, setting off a chain involving naval suspects and financial transfers through intermediaries.
Authorities also found that Mr Sun possessed Chinese and Cambodian passports, along with a pink identification card issued to registered foreign residents.
