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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Police arrest 32 in Kanchanaburi smuggling operation
Police in Kanchanaburi pursued a gang smuggling illegal workers, resulting in the arrest of 32 people. The driver managed to escape, abandoning the vehicle. Workers were found with a string tied to their wrists, indicating their intended work locations in various provinces. Police Major General Khongkrit Lertsitthikul, commander of the Highway Police Division, and Police Colonel Pakhapol Suchon, commander of…
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Pattaya police allegedly ignore theft case of Japanese tourist
A Japanese tourist accused Pattaya Police Station officers of inaction after losing cash and belongings on his first day in Pattaya. The officers reportedly asked him to investigate the theft case himself. The victim, 78 year old Yoshiki Matsuura, reached out to Thai news agencies to expose the inaction of the Thai police to the public. He expressed his disappointment and urged…
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Blow and behold: British man’s nose for trouble at Phuket Airport
Drama unfolded at Phuket International Airport as a British man swapped sun, sea, and sand for cuffs at customs for cocaine possession. The 42 year old British man found himself in hot water after allegedly kicking off and creating a scene at Phuket Airport. Following his tumultuous antics, airport officers uncovered 4.11 grammes of cocaine on him, sealed in a…
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Gunmen ambush police in Pattani, killing two officers
Gunfire erupted late last night when a group of assailants ambushed police officers in Yarang district, resulting in the immediate deaths of two officers at the scene. The incident occurred yesterday, February 19, at approximately 11.25pm, prompting an urgent investigation to track down the perpetrators. Residents alerted the police upon hearing gunshots in the middle of the night. The unidentified…
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Burmese man kills Thai woman for refusing sex for second time
Police yesterday, February 19, arrested a Burmese man for killing a Thai woman and abandoning her body in a roadside forest in the central province of Samut Sakhon, allegedly because she refused to have sex with him a second time. A motorcycle taxi rider came across an overturned motorcycle on Ban Phaeo-Pratone Road and stopped to investigate. He then spotted…
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Pattaya fights a shore thing: War declared on stinky seaweed
In a bid to rescue their once-pristine shorelines, Pattaya City officials have declared war on the stinking seaweed invasion that’s left Krating Rai Beach in turmoil. Under Deputy Mayor Manoch Nongyai, a massive clean-up operation was launched yesterday, February 19, as officers from the Cleaning Control Division, Pollution Control Division, and Natural Resources and Environment Department rolled up their sleeves…
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Bangkok plans new central bus terminal for better city connectivity
The Transport Ministry is considering relocating Bangkok’s inter-provincial bus terminals to the Krungthep Aphiwat Central Terminal to enhance connectivity with the city’s mass transit system. Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit discussed this proposal with the Policy Monitoring Committee, instructing the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy Planning (OTP) to explore the feasibility of consolidating all state-operated bus terminals within this new…
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Bangkok braces for a thunderstorm as heavy rains roll in
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has forecast thunderstorms in 39 provinces tomorrow, with Bangkok expected to experience the heaviest rainfall. Strong gusts of wind and high waves in the Gulf of Thailand are anticipated, prompting cautious navigation advice for sailors. Yesterday, February 19, the TMD issued a 24-hour weather forecast. Thunderstorms are expected in parts of northern Thailand, the western…
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Woman forgets cat in car, feline locked-in overnight (video)
A woman faced criticism after discovering her beloved cat was locked in a car overnight, despite the feline sneaking in on its own. Fortunately, a window had been left slightly open. Meanwhile, the woman’s mother searched tirelessly throughout the night for the missing pet. Social media users jokingly commented on who might inherit the family fortune. Yesterday, TikTok user @su_fk1992…
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Bangkok to adopt Beijing’s air pollution solutions in landmark deal
Bangkok is set to benefit from Beijing’s expertise in tackling air pollution, as the two capitals signed a groundbreaking Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Air Quality Monitoring and Management Cooperation. The agreement, signed via video between the Beijing Municipal Ecology and Environment Bureau and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s Environment Department, marks a major step in the fight against toxic smog.…
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Thai bar girl accuses employer of raping her at staff accommodation
A Thai bar girl accused her employer of raping her in November last year and attempting to evade legal punishment by offering her 600 baht in compensation. Police reportedly ignored her case, allowing the alleged rapist to remain at large. The 26 year old bar girl, Ple, sought assistance from social media influencer Thamanat “King” Daengtim after her sexual assault case…
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Industry Ministry seizes 49 million baht substandard steel
Industry Ministry officials have seized substandard steel and electrical accessories worth 49.2 million baht in Bangkok and Chon Buri, ordering a factory suspension and launching further investigations into non-compliant products. Industry Minister Akanat Promphan announced that a special committee, led by Thitipat Chotedechachai, conducted inspections in collaboration with the Thai Industrial Standards Institute (TISI) and provincial industrial offices. The operation…
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Fatal collision claims young man’s life in Chachoengsao province
A tragic accident occurred when a young man, on his way home after work, collided with a parked truck and was subsequently run over by a pickup truck, leading to his death. The incident took place at 6pm yesterday, February 18, on Suwinthawong Road, heading towards Mueang Chachoengsao, in Sala Daeng subdistrict, Bang Nam Priao district, Chachoengsao province. Police Lieutenant…
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Thai Union hosts PM in Songkhla to boost seafood industry
Executives from the Thai Union Group Public Company Limited, a global leader in the seafood industry, hosted Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and her Cabinet yesterday, February 18. The visit took place at the Thai Union Seafood Company’s frozen seafood processing plant in Songkhla province. The aim was to understand challenges and explore strategies to enhance the competitiveness of Thailand’s fisheries…
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Customs seizes over 46 million baht in counterfeit goods
The Department of Customs, led by Theerach Atthanavanich, has successfully seized 602,600 items in violation of customs, intellectual property, and related laws. The confiscated goods, which include cigarettes, e-cigarettes, counterfeit branded products, and other illicit items, are valued at over 46 million baht. The legal processes have concluded, and these items are now the property of the state. The Ministry…
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Fire destroys Phatthalung home, residents escape unscathed
A fire engulfed the home of an 83 year old former forestry official late at night in the Phatthalung area. The blaze destroyed the wooden house, though fortunately, all five residents escaped unharmed. The fire is suspected to have been caused by an electrical short circuit. Police Captain Sorawit Rakjui, duty officer at Mueang Phatthalung Police Station, received a report…
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Intoxicated man jumps into temple pond to cool off, drowns
A 36 year old man drowned in a temple pond in Chachoengsao after reportedly jumping into the water to cool off while intoxicated. The incident occurred at Ban Noen Sawang temple’s pond in the Sanam Chai Khet district today, February 18, when residents had warned him of the dangers but were unable to prevent the tragedy. Village headman Thanachok Prakongsuk…
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Mother and daughter arrested in Buriram for online prostitution
Police in Buriram province arrested a mother and her 17 year old daughter for allegedly engaging in online prostitution. The police set up a sting operation to apprehend the pair, despite the daughter claiming her actions were consensual. Yesterday, February 18, the investigative team from Buriram Provincial Police was alerted to online posts advertising sexual services via an application. Reports…
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Heavy rain leads to over 50 accidents in one hour in Loei
Loei province was thrown into chaos as the season’s first heavy rainfall triggered a catastrophic wave of accidents, leaving over 50 vehicles wrecked in just one hour. The sudden downpour turned the roads into slippery hazards, catching drivers off guard and resulting in a series of crashes across multiple districts. Yesterday, February 17, intense rainfall lashed several areas, including Phu…
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Thai transwoman nabbed after Indian gold heist goes off-chain
Police arrested a Thai transwoman and her friend for physically assaulting an Indian man and stealing his gold necklace, valued at 120,000 baht, at a hotel in the southern province of Songkhla. The incident occurred after the victim refused her sexual services, claiming she looked different from her online profile. The 41 year old Indian victim filed a complaint at…
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Thailand prisoner rights debate scrapped amid backlash
A heated debate over equal healthcare rights for prisoners was abruptly shut down in Thailand’s Senate yesterday after Senator Angkhana Neelapaijit withdrew her motion, sparking backlash from fellow lawmakers. The motion aimed to highlight discrepancies in medical treatment between prisoners and high-profile figures like former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who spent six months in a VIP hospital ward instead of…
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Border patrol seizes 700kg of crystal meth after smugglers flee
Border patrol officers seized over 700 kilogrammes of crystal methamphetamine following a clash with a smuggling gang, who abandoned their vehicle and fled. The increased drug flow has prompted heightened police vigilance as the price of crystal meth dropped significantly to 10,000 baht per kilogramme. At 4.30pm, yesterday, February 18, Police Colonel Worapat Boonma, commander of the Border Patrol Police…
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PM urges fast-track completion of Songkhla-Malaysia border road
Thailand’s long-delayed new border crossing in Songkhla is finally set to open, with Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra ordering urgent action to complete the missing road link to Malaysia. During a mobile Cabinet meeting in Songkhla yesterday, February 18, PM Paetongtarn inspected several development projects and was shocked to learn that the 2nd Sadao Border Checkpoint, built in 2019, remains closed…
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Hiss-teria: Family of pythons slithers into Kamphaeng Phet home
Residents of a Kamphaeng Phet house were startled when a family of pythons was discovered in their home. Yesterday, February 18, rescue workers from the Sawang Kamphaeng Phet Unit in Khlong Lan were called to assist 62 year old Tui Suwanbang. He reported numerous snakes at his residence, located at house number 20, Moo 6, Ban Pang Nuea, Pang Tawai…
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Ang Thong ice cream vendor scammed with fake 1,000 baht note
An ice cream vendor in Ang Thong province was deceived by a fraudster who posed as a customer ordering ice cream for construction workers. The incident, which occurred on Sunday, February 16 around 12.20pm, involved a counterfeit banknote trick. The fraudster altered a 100 baht note to resemble a 1,000 baht note by adding a zero with a blue marker.…
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Elderly woman found dead in Nakhon Si Thammarat canal
A 66 year old woman was found dead in a rubber plantation canal in Mueang district, Nakhon Si Thammarat province, after being missing from home for several hours. Initial autopsy results indicated she had been dead for at least six hours before her body was discovered yesterday, February 18. Police Colonel Kittichai Kairnara, along with investigators, a doctor from Maharaj Nakhon…
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Thailand battles flu season as cases soar and fever pitch rises
Thailand is facing a major influenza outbreak, with 107,570 cases recorded this year and nine deaths, the Public Health Ministry confirmed yesterday, February 18. Flu infections are surging at 15,000 new cases per week, a sharp rise from the 10,000 per week reported in early 2024. Dr Jurai Wongsawat, spokesperson for the Department of Disease Control (DDC), stated that children…
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Tragic hunting accident in Doi Phu Kha National Park Nan
Two men were involved in a tragic hunting incident in Doi Phu Kha National Park, Nan province, resulting in a fatality. Mistaking his companion for a wild boar, one man accidentally shot and killed him. The incident was reported by the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation on Facebook. The shooting occurred on February 17 at 11.38am in the…
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10 suspects arrested for money laundering linked to call centre scam
Police arrested 10 out of 32 suspects from eight provinces in Thailand for operating a money laundering scheme worth over 2 billion baht for a call centre scam gang. Officers from the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) held a press conference yesterday, February 18, to disclose details of the money laundering crackdown. The operation, conducted throughout February, targeted 32 suspects involved…
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Wife’s dream predicts husband’s end in wall collapse tragedy
A tragic accident occurred in Nakhon Phanom when a wall collapsed, killing a man wearing the exact clothes his wife dreamt about. A man was crushed under a bathroom wall at his home yesterday February 18, despite scepticism about his wife’s premonition. At the residence located at 94 Ban Phon Ngam, Mueang district, relatives, including 64 year old Tula Phokapanit…
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