In a striking display of diligence and tenacity, the Royal Thai Police (RTP) managed to apprehend 21 suspects involved in 10 interconnected drug cases from May 31 to June 11. This notable intervention, spearheaded by the Narcotic Suppression Bureau (NSB), saw an astounding seizure of narcotics, including 36 million methamphetamine pills, a staggering 911 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine, and 5.16 kilograms of heroin. The orchestrated operation paints a vivid picture of the relentless effort by law enforcement to combat the incursion of illegal drugs. Pol Lt Gen Samran Nualma, assistant national police chief, announced the remarkable busts on Monday, crediting the coordinated efforts of the NSB team led by Pol Lt Gen Khirisak Tantinavachai. Interestingly, the past eight months have seen almost double the number of arrests compared to the previous year, underscoring the escalating measures taken to quash drug-related crimes. What makes these cases particularly intriguing is the international…
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The Progressive Movement (PM), a key political ally of the main opposition Move Forward Party (MFP), made a compelling argument on Monday about why the Constitutional Court will likely throw out the dissolution case against the MFP. These insights were shared by Piyabutr Saengkanokkul, the PM’s secretary-general, via his vibrant and always engaging Facebook account. The message arrived with an air of urgency, just a day before the high-stakes court proceedings were set to commence. Mr. Piyabutr didn’t mince words, accusing the Election Commission (EC) of falling short in adhering to Section 93 of the organic law on political parties. This section spells out, in meticulous detail, the legal procedure that the EC, as the law’s enforcer, must follow. The failure to follow these guidelines, Mr. Piyabutr contends, renders the petition against the MFP illegitimate. His background as a former associate professor at the Faculty of Law at Thammasat University…
Thailand is sitting on a veritable goldmine, and not just the literal kind. According to the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR), the country brims with over 30 trillion tonnes spanning more than 40 types of minerals, collectively valued at an eye-watering 44,410 trillion baht. These buried treasures could secure Thailand’s raw material needs for generations to come. During a high-energy press conference last week, the DMR’s director-general, Phichit Sombatmak, unveiled an exciting new development. The National Committee on Mineral Resources has flagged specific mining zones as prime locales ripe for development. Imagine this: about 19% of Thailand’s total land area, that’s a whopping 60 million rai, houses mineral riches with an initial valuation surpassing 44,410 trillion baht. Among these treasures are construction stones, essential minerals like potash and perlite for agriculture, and even the eco-friendly varieties like lithium and quartz, which are pivotal for energy storage. It’s like Mother Nature’s…
Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat is championing a reconsideration of the Commerce Ministry’s decision to permit recipients of the 10,000-baht digital wallet payout to spend the money on mobile phones. According to Mr. Julapun, this choice doesn’t align with the scheme’s primary goal: boosting the local economy. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin shares these concerns. The reasoning is straightforward—most mobile phones sold in Thailand are either wholly imported or assembled from foreign components. Consequently, allowing the baht to flow into the purchase of these imported goods could dilute the intended economic stimulus. Mr. Julapun, who chairs the committee monitoring the digital money scheme, voiced these issues during a recent meeting between the Finance and Commerce ministries and other relevant state agencies. The discussion focused specifically on the list of items eligible for purchase using the 10,000-baht digital funds. The core of the scheme lies in encouraging domestic spending, thus ensuring the…
In the early hours of last month, a diligent worker clambered up towering sacks of rice at a bustling warehouse in Surin. These were not just ordinary rice bags; they had been stored for over a decade, awaiting their eventual fate. (Photo: Ministry of Commerce) Fast forward to today, V8 Intertrading Co Ltd has emerged victorious in a highly anticipated auction, acquiring 15,000 tonnes of rice left over from the Yingluck Shinawatra administration’s infamous rice-pledging scheme. The winning bid reached a noteworthy 19,070 baht per tonne, signaling the auction’s momentous success. Commerce Minister Phumtham Wechayachai couldn’t contain his pride, revealing that the state stands to earn an impressive 286 million baht from this sale. Addressing concerns, Mr. Phumtham assured the public that this sale would not clash with the upcoming rice harvesting season in November. The out-of-season auction was strategically planned to avoid any market disruptions. “The strong auction price…
Picture this: a sleek marine police boat slicing through the azure waves on a crisp Monday morning, escorting three wayward vessels back to the Port of Songkhla. These weren’t just any ships – they were infamous oil-smuggling contraptions that had gone awry, found loitering suspiciously near Malaysian waters. (Photo: Assawin Pakkawan) In a twist that reads like a spy novel, eleven crew members from the absconded oil-smuggling boats turned themselves in to the police earlier that same day. Their surrender followed promptly after arrest warrants were issued for an additional fifteen crew members in light of the mysterious vanishing of three out of five seized smuggling boats. These boats had disappeared without a trace from a secure marine police compound. The enigmatic disappearance had all the hallmarks of a high-seas heist. From Chon Buri’s sleepy Sattahip district, the three boats vanished into thin air—or, more accurately, watery depths—only to reappear…
The political temperature is expected to rise a notch tomorrow (Tuesday) as the Constitutional Court begins its deliberation of three political cases, while the Office of the Attorney-General (OAG) is set to indict former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra on a lese majeste charge. While all four cases are bound to have ramifications on the political landscape, only one case will be concluded tomorrow with the Constitutional Court set to hand down a ruling. The case involves the constitutionality of four provisions in the Senate election law. The court said last week it had obtained enough information to make a ruling tomorrow, which will decide if the ongoing Senate election process will proceed or be invalidated. The final phase of the election will be held on June 26. The other two cases, which concern the fate of Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and the opposition Move Forward Party (MFP), are expected to…
On a bustling Monday morning, Deputy Transport Minister Surapong Piyachote stepped forward to quell public concerns about the MRT Yellow Line’s safety, promising more frequent safety checks to avert future malfunctions. The minister made his announcement following a detailed inspection of the Yellow Line monorail system in Bangkok, just a day after the restoration of regular passenger services. Before the weekend, the train service ran on a limited schedule due to essential repairs on segments of the track, which were compromised back in March by a malfunctioning conductor rail. The damage was significant enough that parts of the track cascaded onto the road below, inadvertently damaging several vehicles parked beneath the elevated tracks. This incident heavily impacted the segment between Hua Mak and Si Iam stations, necessitating single-line operation between these stations. Eastern Bangkok Monorail Co Ltd (EBM), the line’s operator, announced the successful replacement of a 5.7-kilometre-long conductor rail…
In the quaint Muang district’s tambon Nong Pla Lai, Saraburi, a rather perplexing and shocking incident has left the community in disarray. Authorities have taken a 19-month-old child into protective custody after discovering that the toddler was reportedly using e-cigarettes and drinking kratom juice. The child is now safe and being cared for at the province’s Shelter for Children and Families. This critical intervention was prompted by Ekapop Luengprasert, an adviser to the Interior Minister and the brain behind the Sai Mai Tong Rod Facebook page, who received troubling complaints from alarmed neighbors. These concerned residents unearthed disturbing details that the boy’s mother, a mere 17 years old, had uploaded videos on social media showing her son consuming kratom juice and indulging in vaping. Alarmingly, the reports indicated that the tiny tot had developed an addiction to both substances, throwing severe tantrums if deprived. The boy’s parents nonchalantly claimed that…
SARABURI: A heartfelt yet troubling incident has gripped the community as a 19-month-old toddler was removed from his family home in Muang district’s tambon Nong Pla Lai due to his alarming exposure to e-cigarettes and kratom juice. Authorities have since taken the young boy into protective custody, now under the watchful care of the province’s Shelter for Children and Families. This intervention was triggered by a complaint on the popular Sai Mai Tong Rod Facebook page managed by Ekapop Luengprasert, an adviser to the Interior Minister. Concerned neighbors had tipped off the authorities after noticing a series of distressing posts from the boy’s mother on her social media accounts. Incredibly, the boy’s 17-year-old mother had shared numerous videos showcasing the toddler both consuming kratom juice and indulging in vaping. The child’s apparent dependency on these substances was cause for alarm. According to neighbors, the toddler would fly into tantrums if…