Police and troops unearthed a cache of weapons and ammunition during a recent raid on a house Wuttipong previously used in Pathum Thani.

Prawit said he could “talk” with Vietnam in regard to the issue, adding he had met Vietnam’s Defence Minister just a few days ago.

“[Wuttipong can] flee as he wishes – I can chase him up,” said Prawit.

Wuttipong was believed to have fled to Laos. Asked whether Lao authorities had responded to Thailand’s requests in regard to Ko Tee’s possible extradition, Prawit said it has not.

He added that some Lao media have reported on the issue.

After finding the weapons at the Pathum Thani house, security authorities expanded their searches to nine other locations near Bangkok and found two ship containers missing from one site.

They claimed the weapons would have been used in assassination plots against some government leaders.

Nine suspects have been arrested and placed under the first round of 12-day detention since Friday, but Wuttipong remains at large.