Authorities confiscate drones from a storage facility in Samut Prakan
In a significant development, authorities in Thailand conducted a raid on a warehouse in Samut Prakan, seizing over 200 pieces of drone-related equipment. The warehouse belongs to TRD Systems Pte Ltd, a Singaporean company that has been legally registered and operating for over three years.
The company supplies high-tech drone and anti-drone technology imported from Singapore, primarily to government agencies. The seized equipment includes drones, signal detectors, jamming guns, and a van designed to detect and disrupt signals. The authorities are investigating whether this equipment poses a threat to national security, especially amid heightened border tensions and a nationwide ban on civilian drone flights, which could be extended beyond August 15, 2025.
The involvement of signal detection and jamming devices has raised concerns linked to international security issues. However, no definitive findings have been publicly announced yet. A press conference is anticipated to provide more details on the investigation's progress.
The raid was prompted by a report from the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC). During the raid, authorities impounded 29 drones, 38 signal detectors, 129 signal-jamming guns, 16 jamming devices, a van for detecting and disrupting signals, and 50 other related items.
The managing director of TRD Systems Pte Ltd, identified as Kritsanan, was present during the raid and cooperated with authorities. The company only sells its products to government agencies, according to a source familiar with the case.
A photo of the impounded van equipped for detecting and disrupting drone signals was supplied by Wassayos Ngamkham. The equipment seized, including vans valued at over 40 million baht, is sophisticated and originally intended for government security use, which contributes to the sensitivity of the investigation.
The investigation is ongoing, with authorities looking into the possibility that the advanced drone and signal-jamming technology might be linked to broader security challenges, particularly given the context of border tensions with Cambodia and the drone flying ban. The ban on civilian drone flights was issued by the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand on July 30.
- The seized equipment from TRD Systems Pte Ltd, including drones, signal detectors, and jamming devices, suggests a focus on cybersecurity and technology in their product offerings.
- The sophisticatedsignal-jamming technology, valued at over 40 million baht, raises questions about its potential use beyond government security, particularly in relation to the national security of Thailand amid heightened border tensions.
