Thai police raid uncovers illegal pork carcasses in Pathum Thani
Police and the Department of Livestock Development yesterday conducted a raid at four locations in Talat Thai, Pathum Thani province. The operation followed reports of illegal pork carcass imports intended for sale across Thailand.
One target of the raid yesterday, April 29, was a cold storage facility with a 40-tonne capacity, storing pork carcasses illegally brought in from Nakhon Pathom and Samut Prakan provinces.
Some 9,350 kilogrammes of carcasses were discovered, with the owner only able to produce documentation for 4,000 kilogrammes.
Some carcasses emitted a foul odour, with parts already decomposing, and the owner could not properly account for the source of the remaining 5,350 kilogrammes, which lacked any certification.
Officials instructed the cold storage owner to gather evidence for further clarification due to violations of the Animal Epidemics Act 2015.
The act carries penalties of up to two years in prison, a fine of up to 40,000 baht (US$1,195), or both, reported KhaoSod.
Pathum Thani province is under strict monitoring for African swine fever outbreaks, making disease control and consumer safety paramount.
Police have therefore seized the 5,350 kilogrammes of pork, valued at nearly 1 million baht (US$29,905), for 15 days. If the owner fails to provide proper documentation, legal action will follow.
In similar news, police uncovered a warehouse in Samut Sakhon storing illegally imported salted pig intestines from China. The facility, found in unsanitary condition with a strong foul odour, contained goods estimated to be worth over 10 million baht. The Chinese owner was absent during the raid.
On April 28, Police Major General Thatphum Jaruprach, commander of the Economic Crime Suppression Division, directed Police Colonel Narupon Karuna and Police Lieutenant Colonel Noppakun Tasanmalai to coordinate with the Department of Livestock Development.
Acting on a search warrant issued by the Samut Sakhon Provincial Court, the team inspected warehouse number 340 in the Mueang subdistrict of Krathum Baen district.
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