Nares Lekhakul, Firearms Parts Smuggling, Seattle WA, 2023

SEATTLE, WA – A pair of brothers are facing federal prison time after admitting to a years-long conspiracy to illegally funnel firearm parts to Thailand. NARES LEKHAKUL, 36, of Bellevue, Washington, and his brother, NARIS LEKHAKUL, 42, a citizen of Thailand, pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges in U.S. District Court in Seattle, according to U.S. Attorney Jenny A. Durkan.

The scheme, which began to unravel in 2011, involved NARIS LEKHAKUL orchestrating the ordering of firearm parts while residing in Thailand. These parts were initially shipped to his brother’s home in Bellevue. NARES LEKHAKUL then attempted to mask the true contents of the shipments before forwarding them overseas. When one shipment was intercepted by authorities, the brothers broadened their operation, recruiting four additional individuals to further conceal the illegal exports.

Court documents reveal a calculated effort to evade detection. The co-conspirators didn’t bother with licenses, instead relying on fraudulent names, fake invoices, and deceptive packaging. They meticulously packed the firearm components to bypass x-ray scanners, labeling magazines for .45 caliber handguns as innocuous items like “Vented steel case for electronic components” or “replacement springs and metal caps for bottling machine.” Other shipments were disguised as “hobby parts” or even “glow in the dark marker sets.”

Investigators believe the group was responsible for over 240 shipments of restricted firearm components. While they didn’t ship complete firearms, the parts themselves are regulated under the United States Munitions List, requiring an export license from the Department of State – a requirement the group blatantly ignored. The U.S. Munitions List defines defense articles and services that require strict export control.

Prosecutors have agreed to recommend a four-year prison sentence for NARIS LEKHAKUL and 30 months for NARES LEKHAKUL. However, U.S. District Judge Richard A. Jones isn’t bound by this recommendation and can impose the maximum sentence of five years. Four additional conspirators have also pleaded guilty: WITT SITTIKORNWANISH, 24, of the Los Angeles area; WIMOL BRUMME, 41, of Las Vegas; SANGSIT MOWANNA, 35, of the Los Angeles area; and SUPANEE SAENGUTHAI, 35, of Berkeley, California.

The investigation was spearheaded by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), with assistance from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Sentencing is scheduled for January 24, 2014. This case underscores the ongoing efforts to disrupt the illegal flow of weapons components across international borders and bring those responsible to justice.