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Bangkok: The discovery of a military-grade arsenal at the residence of a Chinese national near Pattaya has sparked a significant security investigation by Thai authorities. On Saturday, police revealed a vast collection of weaponry seized from the home of 31-year-old Sun Mingchen. The cache included two M16 assault rifles, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, Russian landmines, and approximately five kilograms of explosives.

The investigation was triggered by a routine traffic stop on Friday, during which police discovered a pistol in a vehicle occupied by two other Chinese nationals.

This lead eventually brought investigators to Sun’s home, where he had resided for approximately two years under a long-term visa. While officials from Chonburi province noted that there is currently no evidence of a specific planned attack, local police chief Pongphan Wongmanithet emphasized that the ‘security implications’ are being thoroughly scrutinized.

Digital evidence has added a layer of concern to the case. Investigators reportedly found videos on the suspect’s phone showing him handling the weapons, along with AI chatbot search history regarding the technical properties of military plastic explosives. These findings have fueled discussions regarding potential "terrorist" intent.

As the legal process begins, Sun Mingchen has been charged with the illegal possession of unauthorized weapons, a crime that carries a potential ten-year prison sentence in Thailand. 

Moving forward, authorities plan to conduct a psychological evaluation of the suspect to better understand his motives and determine if others were involved in the accumulation of such high-level military hardware.