A 45-year-old Malaysian man has been arrested in Thailand after police found high-powered firearms and ammunition hidden in his car. The case has sparked concerns of cross-border arms trafficking in the region.
Authorities in Songkhla province stopped the suspect, identified as Yeap Soon Eie, during a routine roadblock on 31 August. The checkpoint was set up to detect drug smugglers and security threats, but what officers discovered shocked them.
Inside his Malaysia-registered Kia Optima, police uncovered a cache of weapons: two M4 rifles, 300 rounds of 5.56 mm ammunition, seven magazines, 100 rounds of .45 mm bullets, and 50 rounds of 9 mm ammunition.
Suspect Confessed to Smuggling Job
Thai police confirmed that Yeap admitted he had been hired in Penang to deliver the firearms into Thailand. For his part in the operation, he was allegedly promised RM10,000, which is about S$3,050.
Investigators believe this may not have been Yeap’s first smuggling attempt, pointing to at least two previous crossings between Malaysia and Thailand. Authorities are now probing whether he is linked to a wider arms trafficking network operating across Southeast Asia.
The case has also taken a darker turn after Yeap tested positive for methamphetamine. This led to additional charges, including drug use and driving under the influence of narcotics.
Ongoing Investigation into Cross-Border Trafficking
Thai media outlets reported that preliminary charges against Yeap include illegal possession of firearms and ammunition without a licence, along with multiple drug-related offences.
Malaysian police have also been alerted. Kedah Police Chief Datuk Adzli Abu Shah stressed that the matter must first be investigated under Thai law, given the arrest took place in Songkhla.
This arrest highlights ongoing concerns about the porous border between Malaysia and Thailand, where syndicates are known to smuggle drugs, contraband, and weapons. Authorities on both sides are expected to coordinate closely as investigations continue.
If confirmed to be part of a larger arms operation, this case could be a major breakthrough in uncovering transnational crime networks in the region.