Phang Nga –
In the early morning hours of June 24, 2025, authorities in Phang Nga intercepted a passenger vehicle carrying a suspected explosive device, effectively averting a potential security threat aimed at Phuket.
The Phang Nga City Police told the Phuket Express that at around 3:30 a.m., officers from Muang Phang Nga Police Station, under the command of Pol. Col. Veerapong Rakkhito, stopped a black Honda City with Surin license plate at a checkpoint near the bypass intersection in front of the Phang Nga Provincial Hall. The vehicle had turned toward the provincial bus terminal in a suspicious manner, prompting officers to intervene.
Inside the car, police found two men: a 29-year-old driver from Manang Yong Subdistrict in Pattani’s Yaring District, and a 37-year-old passenger from Khao Toom Subdistrict in Yarang District, also in Pattani. During a search of the vehicle, authorities discovered a suspicious timing device wired to a circuit board. The component was concealed in a plastic ziplock bag hidden among the suspects’ bedding and clothing.
For safety, officers placed the item in the spare tire compartment of the car and called in the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team. Upon inspection, the device was confirmed to contain explosive materials. Forensic evidence, including a smartphone and Pocket WiFi linked to the device, was also retrieved.
Upon questioning, the suspects admitted they had been hired to transport the vehicle and its contents from Sakoam in Thepha District, Songkhla Province, on the evening of June 23. Using GPS coordinates provided by the unknown employer, they followed a route through Songkhla, Rattaphum, Phatthalung, Trang, Krabi, and Thap Put, alternating driving duties throughout the journey.
Senior officers, including Region 8 Police Commissioner Lt. Gen. Surapong Thanomjit, Phang Nga Provincial Police Chief Maj. Gen. Somchai Suetortakul, and Bomb Squad experts, were dispatched to the scene to oversee the investigation. The collected evidence is now being used to trace the network behind the operation and determine whether the incident was part of a broader plot targeting southern Thailand.
