In the vibrant heart of Surat Thani, a sun-drenched province in the south of Thailand, an intriguing story unfolded that seemed to leap straight from the pages of a suspense novel. Picture this: on a seemingly ordinary Tuesday, the tranquility of Muang district was interrupted by the buzz of law enforcement activity. Officers had stormed the home of a local coach driver, not just for an afternoon chat, but to make an arrest that would captivate the entire community. The man at the center of this whirlwind was Channarong Boonjui, a 34-year-old tour bus driver. He was taken into custody by the Immigration Bureau’s elite team, headed by none other than the formidable Pol Lt Gen Panumat Boonyalak. The charge? Allegedly pilfering the credit card of a Romanian tourist and subsequently using it to siphon off a whopping 280,000 baht from assorted ATMs around town! Quite the sum to have…
THAI.NEWS - Thailand Breaking News
The grand search for a new Governor for the Bank of Thailand is officially underway, as the Selection Committee opens its doors to potential candidates ready to step into the formidable shoes of Sethaput Suthiwartnarueput. As his five-year term ticks to an end in September 2025, the hunt for his successor begins with a thrilling call for applicants. Are you brimming with passion for economics? Do you dream in spreadsheets and see the world through a lens of monetary policy? Well, your moment to shine has arrived! To make it through the esteemed doors of the Bank of Thailand, the Selection Committee has laid out a treasure map of qualifications. First and foremost, candidates need to wave the Thai flag high. Nationality aside, age is but a number, but it should be below 60 when the nomination is whisked away to His Majesty the King for his royal nod. A…
In the serene northern stretches of Thailand, a captivating yet concerning story has emerged—a tale of two rivers, diligent officials, and ambitious geopolitical solutions. Late last month, in the tranquil Mae Ai district of Chiang Mai, the tranquil flow of the Kok River became the focal point of a crucial environmental investigation. With great care, officials gathered water samples, their mission clear: to unveil the presence of contaminants that have drifted ominously downstream from Myanmar’s mined territories. As reads from Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai’s remarks, there’s an intricate plan unfolding to safeguard Thailand’s cherished waterways. Imagine this: a series of check dams standing guard along northern rivers, acting like vigilant sentinels against the stealthy influx of mining-induced pollutants from Myanmar. These mighty structures will take on the hazardous heavy metals that have insidiously seeped into the Kok, Sai, and Mekong rivers, raising red flags with alarming levels of arsenic…
In a world where the casino industry is a competitive battleground, MGM Resorts International is stepping up to propose that Thailand embrace a casino tax rate akin to Singapore’s, aiming to attract tourists and fuel economic growth. The suggestion comes as MGM weighs a remarkable investment of up to $5 billion to establish a casino in the bustling metropolis of Bangkok. In a recent address, Ed Bowers, President of Global Development at MGM Resorts, articulated the need for emerging markets, like Thailand, to harmonize their strategies with regional contenders, particularly focusing on tax structures. To paint a clearer picture, Singapore’s taxation of casino gross gaming revenues stands at an inviting 17%. In stark contrast, Macau and Japan employ higher levy rates of 40% and 30%, respectively. Bowers stressed this point, drawing attention to the benefits of enticing local visitors to gamble, which has historically been a winning strategy. By highlighting…
In a tale as gripping as a high-stakes Hollywood thriller, the Border Patrol Police Unit 327 showcased their expertise by thwarting a significant drug smuggling attempt at the Thai-Myanmar border. Armed with astute intelligence and unyielding resolve, law enforcement officers intercepted a colossal haul of 100 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine cleverly concealed within a modified vehicle. The scene played out like an episode of “Breaking Bad,” but this was the real deal, encompassing tense standoffs and a spectacular capture. It all began on the morning of May 20, 2025, under the leadership of the eagle-eyed Police Major Ananwat Rattanawichai. Alongside him were his trusted cohorts, the meticulous Police Lieutenant Colonel Somchai Soisaeng and the astute Police Lieutenant Colonel Parin Worachokkunakorn, each contributing their tactical prowess to this intricate operation. The intel was clear and precise: a significant drug transfer was imminent, crossing the border from the verdant hills of Myanmar…
Amidst the bustling streets of Pattaya, where the golden sands meet the azure waves, a storm was quietly brewing, albeit one of a rather illegal variety. Picture this: a seemingly innocent cannabis shop, nestled on Pattaya Beach Road, masking a shadowy secret behind its vibrant storefront. In a scene that could rival a detective novel, local police, in a collaborative operation with officers from the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB), swooped down upon the Dr Weed shop. Their mission? To unearth the tangled web of black market goods hidden within its walls. What they discovered was enough to make any crime drama aficionado’s heart race. A trove of contraband, specifically 110 disposable vape devices and 216 packs of imported tobacco, lay stashed away. Estimated to be worth a staggering 60,000 baht, these illegal smoking products were a lucrative venture for those daring enough to deal in them. The culprit behind…
In the city of Pattaya, known for its vibrant nightlife and various adventures waiting at every corner, a simmering undercurrent of unease emerged on the dawn of May 21, 2025. As the neon lights of this famous beach resort town gently flickered across the night sky, two young women bravely stepped forward into the Mueang Pattaya Police Station, each recounting a chilling encounter that has shaken the heart of the community. The clock had just struck 2:21 AM when Dao, a determined 20-year-old, arrived with her colleague to lay bare the ordeal she faced just hours earlier. Her story began at the lively streets of Pattaya Soi 6, a locale where fun and allure dance on the rim of the night. It was approximately 10 PM when Dao found herself confronted by a shadowy figure en route to work at a local bar. Her assailant, shrouded in linguistic ambiguity, spoke…
In a small, unassuming corner of Chai Nat province, an unexpected tragedy unfolded, leaving a close-knit community stunned and somber. The sun had barely set when the call came in—a man, later identified as 49-year-old Wasan, had been found lifeless on a hammock at the Kiatisak Rice Seed Store. The scene was surreal in its simplicity, and yet pregnant with an air of calamity unforeseen. Arriving hastily at the scene, local police were joined by a medical expert from Chai Nat Hospital as well as volunteers from the Ruamkatanyu Foundation. Their grim task was to unravel the mystery of Wasan’s sudden demise. Found reclined on his back, Wasan bore telltale signs of distress: foam at his mouth and a trail of vomit leading to the ground beneath the hammock—a stark testament to his final moments. The modest rice seed warehouse, tucked into the Mueang district, was abuzz with subdued whispers…
In the quiet, unassuming province of Uthai Thani, tucked away in the heart of Thailand, students at a reputable educational institution recently encountered a scenario they’d never imagined could unfold at their school. It appears a certain teacher, who was more prone to revealing himself in rather unexpected ways than revealing the mysteries of mathematics, found himself starring in an unintentional scandal that culminated in his dismissal from the education sector. This recent uproar can be traced back to one unexpected day when a man, shrouded only in a Batman mask, chose to mimic the Caped Crusader’s boldness with less-than-heroic consequences. This incident didn’t involve busting any criminals apart from the one looking back at him in the mirror; instead, it served as a Lex Luthor-level lesson in unexpected human behavior. According to Siripong Angkhasakulkiat, the perceptive spokesperson for the Education Ministry, the teacher’s escapade involved strutting along school corridors…
In a tale that’s more twisted than a Hitchcock plot, former British air hostess, Charlotte May Lee, finds herself caught up in a £1.5 million (about 66.5 million baht) drug bust in Sri Lanka. The bewildered 21-year-old, who hails from Coulsdon, South London, vehemently maintains her innocence, claiming she had no inkling that 46 kilograms of high-grade synthetic cannabis, Kush, was lurking in her luggage. Charlotte’s adventure—or misadventure, as it seems—began when she took a wild detour from her work on a “booze cruise” in Thailand to await a visa renewal in Sri Lanka. Alas, what was meant to be a thrilling detour turned into a harrowing ordeal upon her arrest in Colombo. “I’m no drugs mule,” she adamantly declared from behind bars, insisting that the drugs were surreptitiously stuffed into her suitcase while she was out painting the town red the night before her departure. Her journey to Sri…