In a dramatic scene under the stars, soldiers from the Pha Muang task force found themselves in the throes of a late-night gunfight near the Myanmar border in Mae Sai district, Chiang Rai province. The skirmish, which took place in close proximity to a border pass at Pha Mee village in tambon Wiang Phangkham, culminated in a huge discovery: 600,000 methamphetamine pills and nearly 10 kilograms of heroin, all left behind by retreating smugglers. The clash erupted around 10:30 PM, turning the otherwise serene village into a battlefield. The smuggling gang, caught off-guard, engaged in a fierce exchange of fire with the patrol unit. Although the gunfire was intense, the soldiers emerged unscathed, according to Gen Narit Thawonwong, the commander of the drug suppression unit stationed at the northern border. What started as a routine patrol soon escalated into a high-stakes game of cat and mouse as the smugglers made…
THAI.NEWS - Thailand Breaking News
A touch of golf therapy. A recent Shinawatra weekend retreat to Khao Yai was anything but private and had tongues wagging when Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul paid a surprise visit to the family. From the casual get-together, pictures were released that sparked wild interpretations and speculation. The pictures showed Mr. Anutin and former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra playing golf, with the Bhumjaithai leader crooning along as Thaksin and his Pheu Thai leader daughter, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, sang their favorite number, “When You Say Nothing at All,” by Ronan Keating. Reading between the lines, observers believe the retreat aimed to cool tensions between Bhumjaithai and Pheu Thai. Pheu Thai cannot afford to lose the parliamentary support of Bhumjaithai, which commands 71 seats, the third-largest party. After almost a year as coalition allies, the two parties began to see friction reaching its peak. The Khao Yai retreat was thought…
The National Park Office has witnessed a stellar financial performance, amassing a remarkable 2 billion baht in revenue over the past ten months, as unveiled by its director yesterday. This surpasses the previously set target for the 2024 fiscal year, which concludes at the end of September. Director Chaiwat Limlikhitaksorn expressed confidence that the total revenue would climb even higher, projected to exceed 2.15 billion baht in the remaining 52 days until Sept 30. Originally, the 2024 fiscal year target was pegged at 2 billion baht, marking a significant achievement for the office. To put this into context, the office garnered 1.46 billion baht in revenue last year and 710 million baht back in 2022. According to Mr. Chaiwat, this resounding success is largely due to the strategic appointment of diligent, honest, and dedicated individuals as national park chiefs. Their determined efforts have not only bolstered park protection but also…
AMLBot, a renowned leader in anti-money laundering solutions, has recently forged a pivotal alliance with the Thai Police at the Pathum Thani Police Station in Bangkok. Helmed by Anmol Jain, Head of Investigations for AMLBot, this initiative aims to arm Thai law enforcement with sophisticated blockchain analytics tools to tackle the escalating plague of pig butchering scams in the region. Anmol Jain delivered an enlightening training session on AMLBot Pro, a state-of-the-art blockchain investigation tool, to the Thai police squad. The officers expressed immense gratitude for the complimentary access to AMLBot Pro, lauding its user-friendliness and potency in their investigative work. Rising Threat of Pig Butchering Scams Pig butchering scams, a nefarious form of investment fraud, are increasingly rampant in Southeast Asia, particularly around Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos. In these scams, cybercriminals masquerade as legitimate investment advisers to cheat victims out of their life savings. Training and Collaboration During the…
The Royal Thai Police have recently apprehended two Japanese nationals, Takuya Kato and Hiroto Suzuki, whose passports were released as part of the ongoing investigation. This arrest marks a significant development in the mysterious case of a compatriot’s horrendous demise in the tranquil suburbs of Bangkok last April. After an intense manhunt, Kato, aged 50, and the younger Suzuki, 28, were caught in Laos this past June. Their lawful capture brings a sigh of relief to the northeastern Thai province of Nong Khai, which shares its borders with the Lao capital Vientiane. Under strict protocols, these suspects were passed over to Thai authorities and are now in custody. The two men are alleged to have gruesomely murdered and dismembered Ryosuke Kabashima, a fellow gangster aged 47. This chilling crime had put both Kato and Suzuki on Thailand’s most-wanted list until they were tracked down in Laos. The duo faces an…
SURAT THANI: In a dramatic turn of events, Koh Samui Municipality has taken a bold step in maintaining law and order by demolishing two opulent villas that were being built without the proper authorization. Nestled upon a picturesque hillside in Koh Samui, these lavish constructions were brought down after their owners failed to comply with the municipality’s explicit demolition orders. The meticulous operation unfolded under the watchful eye of Koh Samui district chief, Kampanat Klinsaowakon, alongside Col Dusit Kaysornkaew, head of the Fourth Army Region’s land investigative unit, and a robust team of officials. Their mission: to raze these unauthorized edifices situated on the steep terrain of tambon Bo Phut in Surat Thani’s Koh Samui district. This dramatic chapter opened late last year, when the Koh Samui Municipality discovered that no formal approval had been granted for the construction of these two sumptuous villas. Furthermore, the project was in direct…
In an inspirational move to support the mental well-being of young people, a state-run online psychiatric service has launched as a free mobile application, enthused government spokesman Chai Wacharonke on Friday. The groundbreaking app, OOCA, is poised to provide essential mental health support to youths aged 15 to 25 through convenient video call consultations. With the pressing need for accessible mental health care, OOCA is breaking barriers by offering a virtual door to expert guidance and compassionate care. Users are invited to register online, after which they can seamlessly book appointments and engage with mental health professionals. Each user is entitled to schedule up to four free consultations, ensuring ample opportunity to receive the help they need. The consultation journey begins with a psychiatrist handling the first appointment, followed by a subsequent session with a psychologist. This creates a strong foundation of professional evaluation and guidance. Moving forward, specially trained…
In an unexpected twist of events, the invasive blackchin tilapia fish from Sanam Chai and Khok Kham canals in Samut Songkhram found themselves serving a different kind of role – being the star of the BKK Food Bank activity held on July 19 at Bang Khunthian district office in Bangkok. A somewhat ironic twist for a species causing significant unrest among local farmers and environmentalists. (Photo: Apichart Jinakul) The drama around the blackchin tilapia isn’t just about what’s on the dinner table; it’s also about the heated discussions in some of Thailand’s top offices. Five major companies vociferously denied being involved in the export of these fish. The House Committee on Science, Technology, Research, and Innovation has pegged the damage caused by the blackchin tilapia to farmers and the environment at a staggering 450 million baht. On Thursday, this contentious issue summoned Praphan Leepayakhun, Deputy Director-General of the Department of…
Excitement buzzed through the air on Friday as the People’s Party leader, Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut, joined with deputy leader Sirikanya Tansakun, secretary-general Sarayoot Jailak, and spokesman Parit Watcharasindhu for the party’s grand introduction. This new chapter in Thai politics comes hot on the heels of the court-mandated dissolution of the Move Forward Party (MFP), where all 143 MPs have now found a new home under the People’s Party banner. Determined as ever, the primary opposition party has set its sights on shaping a single-party government come the next election, a mere three years from now. Natthaphong, a charismatic former IT executive, steps into his role with a resolute vision for 2027. “In a true democracy, the most sacred and enduring institution is the people, who hold ultimate power in governing the country,” the party proclaimed on Facebook while unveiling its fresh name and emblem. With a website in the works, the…
Forensic officers meticulously gathered evidence at a condominium unit in Pattaya, where a Lao woman was discovered lifeless in her bathroom, suffering from a severe wound to her throat. (Screenshot from Workpoint TV 23) PATTAYA – In a chilling discovery, the body of a Lao woman was found in the bathroom of her condominium, her throat deeply cut. The police are yet to determine the cause, whether it points to foul play or an act of self-harm. Pol Capt Damchaluai Samkanying, deputy inspector at the Nong Prue station, received the distressing call about the incident at around 6 p.m. on Thursday. The location was pinpointed to a condo in Soi Ban Noen Rot Fai. Immediately, a team of police officers, alongside a doctor from Bang Lamung Hospital and rescue workers, hurried to the site. On the fifth floor, within the compact condo unit, an unsettling scene awaited them: a 28-year-old…