Charupong was implicated by one of the suspects during a press conference on Friday.

Thirachai Uttarawichien, who has been arrested along with eight others following raids at nine locations in seven provinces last week, said that Ko Tee told him a senior politician had informed him about the alleged cache of hidden weapons inside two shipping containers.

He said that Ko Tee was referring to former interior minister Charupong Ruangsuwan. Charupong was a key figure in the Pheu Thai Party as its secretary general.

Charupong, now a secretary general of the Free Thais for Human Rights and Democracy, which was set up after his exile in 2014, said he rejected all the accusations.

The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), he said, used its officers to spread news against opponents and implicate them as terrorists.

He said the NCPO must give up Article 44 and return power to the people by holding a general election as soon as possible.