In a twist that’s stranger than fiction, the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has stumbled upon a tale worthy of a spy novel, involving hidden shipments, false declarations, and a massive pile of cash. The scene of this drama is a bustling company that found itself at the heart of a 20 billion baht scandal, allegedly masterminding the illegal importation of pork by masquerading it as something fishy – quite literally.
Enter Police Lieutenant Colonel Nathaphon Ditsayatham, a stalwart in consumer and environmental protection, who helmed the operation that delved into the depths of this deception. In an operation reminiscent of a Hollywood raid, his team descended upon Thienkham Dairy Corporation Co., Ltd., nestled in the sleepy lanes of Saraburi province. With case number 126/2023 guiding their mission, they crossed the threshold of the company, which ironically prides itself as a raw milk collection hub but, as it turns out, was allegedly up to its elbows in fishy business.
The location unfolded like a set piece – 136 Village 13, Lam Phaya Klang subdistrict, in the Muak Lek district to be precise, but the star of the show, Songpol Thienkham, remained elusive. Instead, the role of the host was played by Suphawadee Chakratok, the vigilant manager who acknowledged the court warrant with an air of grace and puzzlement, permitting the probing search.
What followed was an expedition through time and paper – documents that were purportedly crafted as keys to unlock customs doors without a hitch. The pork carcasses that slipped across borders under the guise of aquatic creatures transformed mundane paperwork into evidence of a grand scam. A whopping 0% customs duty was the carrot that led to this deceptive dalliance, enabling the company to duck under the taxman’s radar with borrowed identities from the sea.
This operation, considered Thailand’s largest in pork importation, was systematically cryptic. The team scrutinized three strategic locales: the company’s meeting room, an office of a general merchandise outlet, and an expansive house, each yielding more questions than answers in their pursuit of the untainted truth. Over an hour later, their quest for illicit bounty ended in silence, at least in the tangible sense. Yet, the pieces of evidence pointed towards a broader narrative stretching from December 1, 2020, to June 13, 2023, implicating Thienkham’s gang with Boriboon Laopaksa in an intricate plot.
Once decoded, the bluffer’s bounty flowed from Laem Chabang port into the hands of unsuspecting retail giants across the land, orchestrated by Songpol, the phantom of this clandestine opera. His ensemble of companies – The Winner Trading Co., Ltd., UJ Interfood Co., Ltd., Giant Trading Co., Ltd., and Grand Food Co., Ltd. – was revealed like sinister notes in a symphony of amoral commerce.
A robust follow-up yielded nearly 500 financial transactions linking the searched company with international conduits, hinting at a conduit for flushing illicit funds – almost 20 billion baht surging through the veins of this network. During the tumultuous times when the pandemic gripped the globe from 2021 to 2023, the unnaturally vibrant financial circulation raised suspicions, prompting the DSI’s pursuit across continents.
As the investigation gains traction under the weight of international legal cooperation, the quest now leans towards European shores. Partners in Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, and Brazil stand poised to unravel the mysteries embedded in bills of lading and invoices, shedding light on the masquerade that duped nations.
In this drama of deception, a compelling subplot emerged – entities labeled pork cuts as polymer sheets or aquatic wares, a ruse so bold that even the registered address laid bare a stage with no actors. As KhaoSod highlights, verifying transactions surrounding roughly 6,000 containers foreshadows more revelations to come.
As the narrative unfolds, the DSI braces to summon the masterminds from Thienkham Dairy Corporation’s hallways to demystify their fiscal turbulence and entrepreneurial sleights of hand. This plot thickens, unfurling with the gravitas of a legal thriller waiting for its climax. The saga, rich with intrigue and shadowy transactions, continues to captivate an audience eager for justice and revelation.
This sounds like a movie plot! How could such massive corruption go unnoticed for so long?
Because most people are too distracted by their daily lives to notice or even care about such scandals.
True, but I hope this sparks a bigger conversation about transparency and accountability.
Absolutely! We need stricter regulations and more whistleblowers.
It’s always about money, isn’t it? People will do anything to avoid paying taxes.
Not just about avoiding taxes, it’s about maximizing profit by exploiting loopholes.
Profits at the expense of ethics!
I don’t believe this is true. Thienkham Dairy Corporation must have been framed.
There are too many facts in this article for them to be innocent.
But we should wait for the trial before jumping to conclusions.
Why is it always the consumer who ends up suffering the consequences of such scandals?
Exactly, consumers face higher prices and questionable product origins.
And we rarely see any of these companies being truly held accountable.
Wow, just when you think it couldn’t get any crazier in 2025, something like this happens!
Sadly, I think scandals like this are going to become more common.
Scandals like these have happened throughout history. Surprise, surprise.
Implications here could extend globally. We don’t need another reason to distrust international trade relations.
This case shows how crucial international cooperation in justice really is.
Without it, many of these issues would never be resolved.
Climate change matters more! Pork scandals are nothing compared to our planet dying.
Great work, DSI. This operation should set a precedent for tackling corruption everywhere.
I just can’t fathom how big this scandal is. It’s mind-blowing!
It is! What might be even crazier is, this might be just the tip of the iceberg.
DSI did the hard part; now it’s up to the courts. Let’s see if justice is served.
With the right connections, these people rarely face true justice.
I hope this time it’s different.
I’m more curious about the logistics. How do you pass pork off as fish?!
Paperwork and sleight of hand; a good scam artist knows the weak spots.
What a waste of resources. Imagine if these efforts were directed at solving real world problems.
Pork or fish? Doesn’t matter to me. Go plant-based!
I’m just waiting for the Netflix documentary about this whole thing.
Haha, same here! It’ll be interesting to see how they dramatize it.