Thailand News
Thailand news, politics, business, crime, and lifestyle—get breaking updates from Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, and beyond. Stay informed on Thai society, economy, tourism, and expat life with The Thaiger.
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3 Frenchmen flee after attacking Phuket food vendor in parking row
Three Frenchmen escaped after gang attacking a Thai food vendor in Phuket on Sunday, January 25, following a dispute over parking. The owner of a roadside food stall on Soi Na Nai 3 in the Patong sub-district shared CCTV footage of the incident with the news Facebook page Newshawk Phuket yesterday. The video shows a foreign man wearing a white…
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Phuket hotel’s six-figure service charge stuns netizens
A Facebook post revealing high annual service charge payouts at a hotel in Phuket has drawn attention online, with the maximum amount reportedly reaching 111,889.45 baht (approximately US$3,589.82) per person in 2025. The post, shared by the Thailand Hotel Service Charge group, included images of what appeared to be internal figures from JW Marriott Phuket Resort and Marriott Vacation Club,…
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American man and 3 British nationals come to peace after Pattaya brawl
Three British men attacked an American man on Soi Buakhao in Pattaya before both parties eventually made peace and paid fine 1,000 baht each. A video of the incident circulated widely on Thai social media earlier this week. The footage shows three foreign men repeatedly kicking another foreign man wearing a red T-shirt, who was already injured and sitting on…
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Authorities shut down movie2free streaming network after nationwide raids
Thai authorities shut down the illegal movie streaming website movie2free following coordinated raids across six provinces, arresting four suspects and seizing assets linked to copyright infringement and money laundering. The operation was carried out on 26 January 2026 under the direction of the Department of Special Investigation. Search warrants issued by the Criminal Court were executed at eight locations in…
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Fake police gang arrested over abductions, drug planting and extortion
Police arrested a man accused of posing as a police officer and leading a gang that abducted victims, planted drugs, and extorted money in several locations. The suspect confessed, according to investigators. The arrest was announced on 26 January 2026, at 4.56pm, by the Crime Suppression Division. Officers detained Mr Boonthing, 51, whose surname was withheld, under an arrest warrant…
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Police dismantle call centre scam network, arrest 10 suspects
Thai police have dismantled a transnational call centre scam network operating through fake online marketplaces, arresting 10 suspects including the alleged ringleader who created false social media pages to deceive buyers. The arrests were announced at 2.10pm on 26 January 2026 by the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau at its headquarters. Officers said the operation followed coordinated raids across eight locations…
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Authorities prepare return of 46 million baht to scam victims
Thai authorities are preparing to return more than 46 million baht to victims of a transnational online scam linked to the Huione Pay network, following a joint investigation by cyber crime and anti-money laundering agencies. On 26 January 2026, at 3.39pm, the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau transferred 46,181,000 baht in seized assets to the Anti-Money Laundering Office for distribution to…
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Cambodia digs trenches near Thai border by Trat province
Images released on 26 January 2026 show Cambodian soldiers digging trenches in three locations opposite Thai military positions in Trat province, with the longest stretch extending more than one kilometre. Thai authorities stated that the activity has not crossed into Thai territory but confirmed that formal protests have been lodged over alleged drone surveillance. According to a naval security source,…
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Delivery riders gather outside in mob police station after assault case
Nearly 100 delivery riders gathered outside Pathumwan Police Station on the evening of 25 January 2026, following an assault involving two private security guards and a female delivery rider in central Bangkok. The incident occurred at about 3.00pm on 24 January inside the Royal Bangkok Sports Club on Henri Dunant Street, Pathumwan district. According to police, the injured rider, Ms.…
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Content creator criticised for staged phone theft video on BTS
A staged video showing a mock phone theft on a BTS Skytrain has drawn criticism online after a Thai content creator posted the clip to social media. Online response centred on how such content might affect public perception of safety in Thailand. The video, originally shared on TikTok, shows the creator pretending to be distracted on his phone before another…
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Thailand News | Rail services restart in Northeastern Thailand after deadly crane collapse, FIFA World Cup Trophy visits Bangkok, drawing football fans to ICONSIAM
Today we’ll be talking about rail services resuming following the deadly train collapse from a couple of weeks ago, a harrowing tale of a Finnish child being rescued from torment in Sa Kaeo, and a little later the World Cup has made it’s way to Thailand for an event at Icon Siam. Rail Services Restart in Northeastern Thailand After Deadly…
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Highway police arrest smuggling gang using families as cover
Highway police arrested a group of suspects involved in the illegal transport of Chinese nationals into Thailand, intercepting two vehicles before they reached Bangkok. Investigators said the couriers used wives and children seated in the front of vehicles to avoid detection during police checks. The arrests took place on 25 January 2026, at approximately 7.21pm on Highway 344 in Nong…
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More Thai airports tighten Nipah virus screening
Phuket International Airport has stepped up health screening for passengers arriving from India, following a Nipah virus outbreak in West Bengal, now under active surveillance by Thai health authorities. Although Thailand has not reported any Nipah cases, the Department of Disease Control is enforcing strict surveillance at international airports. Passengers arriving from affected areas are being screened to prevent potential…
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January 26 weather: Cool mornings, patchy fog, high-pressure system weakens
Thailand is waking up to cooler mornings and patchy fog today, January 26, as a strong high-pressure system hovering over upper Thailand and the upper South begins to weaken, following a forecast from the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD). Temperatures are expected to dip by 1 to 2 degrees Celcius (°C) in several regions, with chilly to cold conditions reported in…
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Thailand airports tighten virus checks for West Bengal travellers
Enhanced disease control measures are now in place at Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, and Phuket airports, targeting travellers from West Bengal, India, following a confirmed outbreak of the potentially deadly Nipah virus. A travel advisory urges Thai citizens visiting India to exercise caution. International communicable disease officers at these airports have commenced intensified screening of inbound passengers, particularly those from West…
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Man claims spirit possession in fatal stabbing of grandmother
A 44 year old man, Kiattisak, nicknamed ‘Hamnoi,’ has confessed to fatally stabbing his 89 year old grandmother, Tan, in her home in Nong Hai subdistrict, Mueang district, Udon Thani province, claiming possession by two spirits. Police suspect the incident was due to a lack of medication. The incident occurred last night, on January 24 in Nong Hai subdistrict, Mueang…
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Train services resume after fatal crane collapse in Thailand
Train services on the northeastern line in Nakhon Ratchasima’s Sikhiu district have resumed, following thorough safety inspections and approval by the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) after a fatal crane collapse. The accident on January 14 resulted in 30 fatalities, prompting an ongoing investigation to determine causes and accountability. While the resumption aims to restore transport links and public confidence,…
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Teenagers confess to fatal shooting of boy in Bangkok misunderstanding
Thirteen individuals have confessed to fatally shooting a 13 year old boy after a social media provocation led to a misunderstanding. The incident, involving illegal firearms, occurred on Friday, January 23. Authorities are now seeking court approval to seize the vehicles used in the crime. The incident took place late at night, near a bridge in the Ratchayothin area of…
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Police and military seize 4.7 million meth pills in Thailand
Police Major General Siam Boonsom, along with senior police officials and the military intelligence unit, announced the successful apprehension of a major drug trafficking network. The operation resulted in the seizure of 4.7 million methamphetamine pills on Friday, January 24 at 3.30pm. The police received a tip-off that the suspect would be driving a ten-wheeler truck to collect drugs in…
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Myanmar TikTok star mourned as police hunt murder suspects
Thousands of fans gathered to bid a sorrowful farewell to popular TikTok star Go Tin So Hwe, a 25 year old Myanmar national, whose tragic murder has shocked the LGBTQ community. Yesterday, on January 24, the body of this beloved online personality was found concealed in a grassy area beneath a large tree on the outskirts of Ban Phatong village,…
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Two young men drown after being swept out to sea at Laem Pho Beach
Two young men died after being swept out to sea whilst swimming with friends at Laem Pho Beach in Pattani province, authorities said. The incident occurred on 24 January 2026, when a group of five teenagers entered the sea amid strong wave conditions along the coastline of Laem Pho subdistrict, in Yaharing district. At 9.44am, emergency services received a report…
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Man arrested after fatal stabbing of his 89-year-old grandmother
Police arrested a 44-year-old man after the fatal stabbing of his 89-year-old grandmother at a family home in Udon Thani province, north-eastern Thailand. The suspect told investigators he believed he was possessed by two spirits at the time of the incident. The killing occurred at a residence in Nong Hai subdistrict, Mueang district. Officers from Huai Luang Police Station responded…
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Loan shark gang member arrested in Kanchanaburi after years on the run
A former member of a loan shark gang has been arrested in Kanchanaburi after fleeing authorities for more than two years, police said on 24 January 2026. The suspect, identified by police as Mr Kittisak, aged 37, was detained at a residence in Moo 2, Tha Makham subdistrict, Mueang Kanchanaburi district. The arrest followed an outstanding warrant issued by Chiang…
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Man arrested for killing his girlfriend by cutting out her tongue
Police in Nakhon Si Thammarat arrested a 44-year-old man in connection with the killing of his girlfriend at a resort in Mueang district, following a reported surrender late on 23 January 2026. At about 9.00pm, Pol. Lt. Col. Ekachai Pholkaset, Deputy Superintendent of Nakhon Si Thammarat Provincial Police, received a report from local residents that a man had confessed to…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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Public prosecutor found dead in car near his own child’s school
A public prosecutor was found dead inside his car near a school entrance in Khon Kaen Province on 23 January 2026, police said. Ban Ped Police Station received a call at about 6.30pm about a man found unresponsive inside a vehicle parked on a roadside near a school in Ban Wa Subdistrict, Mueang District. Officers secured the area and coordinated…
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Lopburi man severely burned after two-hour disappearance
A man in Lopburi province was rushed to the hospital with serious burn injuries today, January 23, after returning home in a critical condition, covered in burns and smelling of petrol. Police from Tha Hin Police Station were alerted around 12.45pm to a house in Moo 2, Pho Kao Ton subdistrict, Mueang Lopburi district, where rescue personnel and hospital staff…
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Thailand to redefine normal sweetness in drinks as 50% sugar
Thailand’s Department of Health (DoH) is preparing to roll out a new national standard for sugar levels in made-to-order beverages, with the normal level of sweetness soon to be equivalent to 50% sugar, a move aimed at reducing excessive sugar consumption. The announcement came today, January 23, following a strategic meeting held on January 15 to define policy direction and…
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