Hot News

Thailand hot news, breaking stories, crime, politics, tourism, and business—stay updated with in-depth reports and exclusive interviews on the latest events across the country. Get the latest from The Thaiger, your trusted Thailand news source.

  • Officials destroy opium plantation in raid | Thaiger

    Officials destroy opium plantation in raid

    Officials from multiple Thai government agencies carried out a coordinated operation to destroy an opium plantation and seize illegal weapons in Wiang Sa district, Nan province, on 24 January 2026. The operation took place in Ban Phu Fah Mai, Village No. 8, Yab Hua Na subdistrict, where officers identified and destroyed one plot of opium classified as a Category 5…

  • Cocaine trafficking ring dismantled by Bangkok police | Thaiger

    Cocaine trafficking ring dismantled by Bangkok police

    Thai police arrested four suspects in connection with a cocaine distribution network operating in Bangkok and surrounding provinces, following a three-month investigation led by the Royal Thai Police and the Narcotics Suppression Bureau. The arrests were announced on 24 January 2026, after officers concluded a coordinated operation involving the Metropolitan Police Bureau, the Office of the Narcotics Control Board, and…

  • Father denies receiving money over daughter’s sexual assault allegation | Thaiger

    Father denies receiving money over daughter’s sexual assault allegation

    The father of an 18-year-old woman involved in a misconduct case has publicly denied receiving any money from lawyer Kaew, following claims that he demanded financial compensation. On 24 January 2026, at approximately 11.53am, the father, who owns a tailor shop, released a public statement addressing claims that he accepted money from the accused lawyer. He stated that neither he…

  • Attempted murder suspect arrested after armed attack | Thaiger

    Attempted murder suspect arrested after armed attack

    Police arrested a 35-year-old man on 24 January 2026 in connection with an armed attack on a family home in Roi Et province. The arrest took place at around 10.24am after officers from the Crime Suppression Division located the suspect in Samut Sakhon province. The operation was carried out under the direction of senior division commanders following the issuance of…

  • Twelve arrested over fatal shooting of juvenile in Bangkok | Thaiger

    Twelve arrested over fatal shooting of juvenile in Bangkok

    Police arrested twelve people on 23 January 2026 in connection with the fatal shooting of a 13-year-old boy in Bang Khen district, Bangkok. One suspect remains at large, along with two firearms believed to have been used in the attack. The shooting occurred late on 22 January 2026 near a canal bridge in Soi Phahonyothin 57, Anusawari subdistrict. The victim…

  • Thailand tourism at a tipping point as regional rivals surge, TTF 2026 warns | Thaiger

    Thailand tourism at a tipping point as regional rivals surge, TTF 2026 warns

    Thailand’s tourism industry is approaching a decisive moment. As travel patterns evolve and regional competitors accelerate investment, the kingdom faces mounting pressure to adapt or risk losing its long-held leadership position in Asia-Pacific tourism. For decades, Thailand has been one of the world’s most successful tourism destinations. Today, however, competition is intensifying. While Thailand’s international arrivals declined 7.2% in 2025,…

  • Finnish tourist’s stolen AirPods lead to drug bust on Koh Pha Ngan | Thaiger

    Finnish tourist’s stolen AirPods lead to drug bust on Koh Pha Ngan

    A stolen pair of wireless earphones, Apple AirPods, helped police on Koh Pha Ngan uncover a large cache of illegal drugs yesterday, January 22, after a Finnish tourist reported a theft at her accommodation. The case began at around 10.15am when a 29 year old Finnish woman sought help from Koh Pha Ngan Tourist Police after discovering her belongings had…

  • Thai travellers targeted in rising visa scam wave, VFS warns | Thaiger

    Thai travellers targeted in rising visa scam wave, VFS warns

    As outbound travel from Thailand continues to climb, travellers are constantly reminded to watch out for visa-related scams, with increasing reports of fraudulent appointment letters and illegal charges for priority processing. VFS Global, the official visa outsourcing partner for 26 governments in Thailand, issued the warning this week as more Thai travellers prepare for their travels abroad. According to Simon…

  • Taiwanese and Thai tourists brawl at Chiang Rai’s White Temple | Thaiger

    Taiwanese and Thai tourists brawl at Chiang Rai’s White Temple

    Taiwanese and Thai tourists were involved in a physical altercation at Wat Rong Khun, commonly known as the White Temple, in Chiang Rai province last week following a dispute over photography regulations at the site. A video showing four tourists fighting on the temple’s well-known “Bridge of Rebirth” quickly went viral on Thai social media. The footage showed two couples…

  • Thai police accused of groping 14 year old girl while drunk | Thaiger

    Thai police accused of groping 14 year old girl while drunk

    A police officer nearing retirement in Phetchabun province paid compensation after he alleged groped a 14 year old Thai girl’s breasts while under the influence of alcohol on Tuesday, January 20. The girl‘s mother shared a video of her heated argument with a police officer on social media platforms and also gave it to several news agencies to seek justice…

  • Missing British man found dead in Bangkok hotel after donation appeal | Thaiger

    Missing British man found dead in Bangkok hotel after donation appeal

    Thai netizens raised suspicions about a British family’s donation campaign after they sought financial support to search for a missing relative in Pattaya, only to later announce that he was found dead at a hotel in Bangkok. A missing person poster for 21 year old British national Joshua Kershaw was widely shared across Facebook groups of expats and tourists in…

  • Cha-am cracks down on abandoned buildings to boost tourist safety | Thaiger

    Cha-am cracks down on abandoned buildings to boost tourist safety

    Cha-am police launched a late-night operation last night, January 21, to detain a man found living in an abandoned building near a popular beach viewpoint, amid efforts to prevent crimes that could threaten tourist safety in the area. Kaew Kongwong, Cha-am district chief, led the operation alongside police, immigration officers, municipal staff, and local volunteers. The team searched several locations,…

  • Singha Park Chiang Rai celebrates 10th anniversary of International Balloon Fiesta with grand showcase of 30+ balloons from 13 nations | Thaiger

    Singha Park Chiang Rai celebrates 10th anniversary of International Balloon Fiesta with grand showcase of 30+ balloons from 13 nations

    Singha Park Chiang Rai celebrates its spot as a “World Class Love Destination,” preparing to host the largest international balloon festival in ASEAN, “Singha Park International Balloon Fiesta 2026,” for the 10th time. The event is set to transform the Chiang Rai sky with the colours of over 30 balloons from 13 countries worldwide to welcome the month of love…

  • Foreign man slammed for flying drone, scaring Khao Yai elephants | Thaiger

    Foreign man slammed for flying drone, scaring Khao Yai elephants

    Thai netizens condemned a foreign man for ignoring national park regulations and flying a drone near a herd of elephants in Khao Yai National Park, causing the animals to panic and putting both tourists and wildlife at risk. The incident occurred yesterday, January 21, at Tung Kwang Mineral Lick, a popular wildlife viewing area within the national park in Nakhon…

  • Cobra Gold 2026 brings over 8,000 troops to Thailand | Thaiger

    Cobra Gold 2026 brings over 8,000 troops to Thailand

    Thailand is set to host the 45th annual Cobra Gold military exercise from February 24 to March 6, bringing together more than 8,000 personnel from 30 countries in one of the region’s largest joint defence operations. The multinational exercise, co-hosted by the Royal Thai Armed Forces and the United States Indo-Pacific Command (US PACOM), will take place across several locations…

  • Iranian man arrested for illegally running pharmacy in Pattaya | Thaiger

    Iranian man arrested for illegally running pharmacy in Pattaya

    Police arrested an Iranian man on Tuesday, January 20, for illegally operating a pharmacy in Pattaya and selling controlled drugs without permission or a pharmacist licence. Officers from Pattaya Tourist Police, Chon Buri Immigration Office, and Chon Buri Provincial Public Health Office launched the operation after receiving complaints from locals, alleging that a foreign man was operating Kattika Pharmacy, located…

  • Ruangkrai challenges Mongkolkit’s four husbands policy | Thaiger

    Ruangkrai challenges Mongkolkit’s four husbands policy

    Today, January 22, Thai political activist Ruangkrai Leekitwattana has asked the Election Commission of Thailand (ECT) to investigate whether a campaign policy proposed by Mongkolkit Suksintharanon, suggesting women be allowed to have up to four husbands, violates Thailand’s election laws. Ruangkrai, a parliamentary candidate running in Bangkok’s Constituency 4 with the Palang Pracharath Party, revealed that he had sent a…

  • Laotian housemaid suspected in murder of employer in Bangkok | Thaiger

    Laotian housemaid suspected in murder of employer in Bangkok

    Police suspect a Laotian housemaid of murdering her 79 year old employer at a house in Bangkok’s Bueng Kum district before fleeing the country and illegally crossing the border back to Laos yesterday, January 21. The case came to light after a 54 year old Thai woman, Sumalee Chaikong, alerted police to investigate the home of her neighbour, 79 year…

  • 13 foreigners arrested in romance scam crackdown in Nonthaburi | Thaiger

    13 foreigners arrested in romance scam crackdown in Nonthaburi

    Police arrested 13 foreigners at an accommodation building in Nonthaburi on Monday, January 19, for operating a romance scam network. The suspects included 11 Nigerian men and two Ivorian nationals. The crackdown was launched after a Thai woman filed a complaint with police late last year. She reported to Mueang Nong Khai Police Station that she had transferred more than…

  • Hero K9 dog rewarded after quick Hua Hin murder arrest | Thaiger

    Hero K9 dog rewarded after quick Hua Hin murder arrest

    A police dog and an investigative team in Hua Hin were awarded 30,000 baht yesterday, January 21, after swiftly apprehending a murder suspect linked to the killing of a hotel worker. The reward was presented at Hua Hin Police Station in Prachuap Khiri Khan. Provincial police chief Police Major General Artorn Chinthong and Hua Hin police superintendent Police Colonel Kampanat…

  • What to do in Bangkok this weekend (January 23 to 25) | Thaiger

    What to do in Bangkok this weekend (January 23 to 25)

    Bangkok has decided to be generous this weekend. You’ve got proper live music, rooftops that turn into long conversations, markets you swear you’ll “just walk through” and end up staying for hours, plus a few quiet pockets when your social battery needs a breather. Here are the best things to do in Bangkok this weekend. Things to do in Bangkok…

  • Family of 16 stranded in China after paying 700,000 baht to scam travel agency | Thaiger

    Family of 16 stranded in China after paying 700,000 baht to scam travel agency

    A family of 16 fell victim to a travel agency scam, paying 700,000 baht for a fully organised trip to Harbin, China, only to be left to arrange nearly every aspect of the journey themselves after arriving overseas. One of the victims, Chonchanok, shared details of the ordeal on her Facebook account on Saturday, January 17, explaining that she booked…

  • Chon Buri vendor refuses refund after customer overpays 1,260 baht | Thaiger

    Chon Buri vendor refuses refund after customer overpays 1,260 baht

    A food vendor in Chon Buri refused to refund a customer who mistakenly overpaid for a meal, daring the victim to take legal action after keeping the excess money. The 34 year old victim, Chonnanee, filed a complaint with Nong Prue Police Station yesterday, January 20, after she failed to recover the overpaid amount from a female vendor selling white…

  • Transgender woman slashed in attack on Pattaya Beach | Thaiger

    Transgender woman slashed in attack on Pattaya Beach

    A transgender woman was seriously injured this morning, January 21, after being attacked by an unidentified man with a broken glass bottle on Pattaya Beach. The incident occurred at around 1.50am and was later reported to Pattaya City Police. Officers from Pattaya Police Station arrived at the scene alongside rescue workers from the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Foundation, and found a…

  • Romance scam leaves Thai woman in debt while fake lover lives luxurious | Thaiger

    Romance scam leaves Thai woman in debt while fake lover lives luxurious

    A Thai woman lost around 800,000 baht to a man she met on a dating application, only to later discover that he married another woman and was living a luxurious lifestyle. The victim, identified only as Ploy, travelled from Khon Kaen to Nonthaburi to seek legal assistance from lawyer Ronnarong Kaewphet in Bangkok after realising she was deceived. Ploy explained that…

  • German man wanted for stealing 2,000 baht from Phuket spa | Thaiger

    German man wanted for stealing 2,000 baht from Phuket spa

    A foreign man, reportedly a German national, remains at large after stealing 2,000 baht in cash from a spa in Phuket yesterday, January 20. The theft occurred at around 5pm at a spa located on Ranong Road in the Talat Nuea sub-district. The suspect arrived with two companions, but was seen in the CCTV footage committing the crime alone. In…

  • Fusion of dazzling beauty: The HKTDC twin jewellery shows to shine in March 2026 | Thaiger

    Fusion of dazzling beauty: The HKTDC twin jewellery shows to shine in March 2026

    The twin jewellery shows organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council will open in March. The 42nd HKTDC Hong Kong International Jewellery Show, specialising in finished jewellery, and the 12th HKTDC Hong Kong International Diamond, Gem & Pearl Show, focusing on loose stones and raw materials for jewellery, will be held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre…

  • Russian fraud fugitive on Interpol list arrested in Phuket | Thaiger

    Russian fraud fugitive on Interpol list arrested in Phuket

    Police arrested a Russian national wanted under an Interpol warrant yesterday, January 29, after locating him hiding in the city centre of Phuket. Officers from the Phuket Provincial Immigration Office said they received an alert from the Foreign Affairs Division regarding the suspect, whose name was not disclosed. The Russian man was listed on an Interpol warrant after fleeing his…

  • Thailand to host FIFA Women’s Series 2026 in Ratchaburi | Thaiger

    Thailand to host FIFA Women’s Series 2026 in Ratchaburi

    Thailand has been confirmed as the host of the FIFA Women’s Series 2026, after FIFA approved the event following a hosting proposal submitted by Nualphan “Madam Pang” Lamsam, president of the Football Association of Thailand. The confirmation was announced on Monday, January 19, after the Fédération Internationale de Football Association, better known as FIFA, formally notified Thailand of its selection.…

  • CCIB warns public of tax refund email scam in Thailand | Thaiger

    CCIB warns public of tax refund email scam in Thailand

    Thai cyber police have issued a warning after a rise in fraudulent tax refund emails was reported this week, with both locals and foreigners being targeted during the annual tax filing season, which runs until March 31. The Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) revealed that scammers are posing as government agencies, including the Revenue Department and eForm Thai, in an…