BANGKOK: -- Police Friday arrested a Japanese man who was wanted for illegally producing and selling firearms to gangs in Japan and fled to Thailand four years ago.

Sakoshi Onoda, 54, was arrested in his rented apartment in Soi Ram Intra 5 in Bangkok's Bang Khen district along with two guns, ammunition, electric-shock devices, samurai swords and blueprints for the production of pen guns.

The suspect denied the items were his.

Hiding in Thailand, Onoda had made pen guns for youngsters and criminal gangs for two years, police said.

He was initially charged with illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, producing guns for others without permission and illegal entry into Thailand.

-- The Nation 2008-04-04