News
Thailand news, politics, business, crime, lifestyle, and tourism—stay updated with breaking news and in-depth analysis from Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, and beyond. The Thaiger delivers the latest national news that matters.
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Thinking of retiring in Thailand long-term? Thailand is a popular choice for retirees because of its beautiful landscapes, warm climate, and affordable living. Cities like Chiang Mai and coastal areas offer a relaxed lifestyle with friendly communities. The country also...
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Excise crackdown: 2.7 billion baht fines for tax evasion surge
The Excise Department has been directed to swiftly enforce a zero-tolerance policy on excise tax evasion, focusing on breaches of excise regulations. Deputy Finance Minister Paopoom Rojanasakul emphasised efforts to prevent the smuggling of goods without tax payment, particularly across borders and through online platforms. The department expressed a commitment to prosecuting and taking action against those involved in selling…
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Butt of the bust! Cops stub out 3 million baht cig smuggling racket
Police yesterday intercepted a shipment of illegal cigarettes worth approximately 3 million baht, hidden among parcels on a truck. The driver claimed ignorance of the cargo’s contents, saying warehouse staff loaded the vehicle. Police Lieutenant Colonel Waris Machcha from Highway Police Station 3, Division 7, led the operation yesterday, April 6, that seized 5,480 packs of foreign cigarettes that had…
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Brief encounter! Lawyer cuffed over ‘land grab’ threats in Phuket
A Phuket lawyer found himself on the wrong side of the law after allegedly trying to muscle in on someone else’s land, using threats and intimidation to stake his claim. Anantrak Phethin was nicked in broad daylight on Thursday morning, April 3, in the car park of the Phuket Provincial Land Office, after cops swooped in with a court-issued arrest…
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13 year old Thai boy fatally shoots friend over Yaba dispute
A 13 year old Thai boy surrendered to police after fatally shooting a 19 year old friend during a drug dispute in the Isaan province of Loei. The fatal shooting occurred yesterday, April 6, in a forest near Ban Saraphae School in Chiang Khan district, Loei province. Officers from Chiang Khan Police Station discovered the lifeless body of the 19…
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Elderly woman with Alzheimer’s dies after fall in Prachin Buri pit
A 72 year old woman with Alzheimer’s disease tragically died after falling into a 10 metre deep pit in Prachin Buri province. Her brother, who noticed her absence, discovered her body. The victim lived alone and suffered from Alzheimer’s and heart disease for over two years. At 2.30pm yesterday, April 6, Police Lieutenant Ratthaphon Yodkruea, deputy inspector (investigation) of Mueang…
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Thai bus driver and passenger lose lives in collision with truck
A coach driver and a passenger lost their lives after a bus collided with a six-wheel truck on a road in the central province of Pathum Thani yesterday. Officers from Lat Lum Kaeo Police Station investigated the fatal accident on Road 346 in the Lat Lum Kaeo district of Pathum Thani at 8.20am, yesterday, April 6. The Por Teck Tung…
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Tragic accident in Chon Buri claims life of lottery winner
A 55 year old lottery winner tragically lost his life after being run over by a truck in Chon Buri yesterday. The man, identified as Praphan from Ubon Ratchathani, was found with a winning lottery ticket in his possession that he had not yet cashed. At approximately 4.30pm, yesterday, April 6, police from Mueang Chon Buri received reports of an…
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Teenage gang’s bomb plot blown in Phuket
A teenage gang leader has been banged to rights after cops uncovered homemade bombs, a firearm, and ammo in a dramatic raid to stamp out street racing and youth violence in Phuket. The 17 year old ringleader, known only as ‘T’, was arrested by Wichit police as part of a sweeping operation targeting underage biker gangs wreaking havoc on the…
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Songkran event: Fatal shooting, journalist threatened with death (video)
A Songkran Festival event at Tawanna Shopping Centre in the Bang Kapi area of Bangkok has been cancelled following a fatal shooting on Saturday night. A Thai journalist team was reportedly threatened with death by one of the event organisers. The Facebook page Jmoi V+ (เจ๊มอย v+) shared a video of the altercation on Saturday, April 5, between two groups…
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Drug gang caught with two million meth pills in Loei
A drug trafficking gang attempted to use the long holiday to smuggle two million methamphetamine pills from a neighbouring country. They were apprehended at a checkpoint after trying to flee. Yesterday, April 6, Police Lieutenant General Chatchai Surachetphong, Major General Boonsin Phadklang, Loei Provincial Governor Chaiphot Charoonpong, Police Major General Wiradech Lekaworakul, Police Lieutenant Colonel Yutthawat Chokchai, Police Colonel Natthakrit…
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American nurse recovers after cheating death in Krabi moped crash
An American nurse went from ziplining with elephants to clinging to life in a Thai hospital but now she is thrilled to be back home after a moped crash in Krabi left her face shattered and her future uncertain. Sierra Fairhurst, an intensive care nurse at Salem Hospital in Massachusetts, was on holiday in Thailand with friends when disaster struck.…
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Buriram businesswoman scammed 700,000 baht in call centre fraud
A businesswoman in Buriram’s Prakhon Chai district fell victim to a call centre scam, losing over 700,000 baht. The scam, which involved impersonation of electricity officials, highlights the need for vigilance despite previous caution. The family hopes this case serves as a warning to others. Reporters investigated the incident by visiting Chamras, a 54 year old resident of Prakhon Chai…
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Summer storm set to batter Thailand with wild weather
The Thai Meteorological Department has issued a warning for today, April 7, forecasting a summer storm set to sweep across northern and northeastern Thailand, bringing with it strong winds and hailstones in some unlucky spots. Meanwhile, Bangkok and surrounding areas aren’t off the hook either, with thunderstorms expected to lash 30% of the capital, commuters could be in for a…
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Busted: ‘Pilot’ grounded in Bang Lamung drug operation
In a dramatic late-night raid, Bang Lamung police swooped on a major drug operation, arresting two suspects, including a deliveryman dubbed the “pilot” of the trade. The suspects were cornered at 10.36pm yesterday, April 6, in a rented Laem Chabang room, as police swooped in. Led by Police Colonel Sarawut Nuchanart, the operation unveiled a shocking haul of 5,411 Yaba…
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Flaming fury: Unpaid worker sets Pattaya resort ablaze in protest
In a blaze of fury, an unpaid building worker unleashed havoc by setting fire to a luxury resort home in Na Jomtien. The dramatic showdown ended as the arsonist handed himself over to the police. At 9.30am on April 5, Na Jomtien Police sprang into action after receiving reports of a roaring fire at a plush three-storey residence. Firefighters dashed…
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Former temple secretary arrested for child assault in Thailand
A former secretary of a well-known temple’s abbot was apprehended while hiding on a boat, evading charges of assaulting young temple boys and novices. The case emerged after a victim contracted a sexually transmitted disease, prompting the parents to report the incident. Today, April 6, Police Major General Thirachat Theerachatthamrong directed Police Colonel Phaitoon Khusantia, chief of Division 1, and…
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Scottish tourist arrested after allegedly attacking teen, vandalising motorcycle in Phuket (video)
A 40 year old Scottish tourist was arrested in Phuket after allegedly attacking a teenage boy in front of his mother and a shopkeeper. George Paterson, from Glasgow, reportedly went on a rampage in the early hours of the morning on April 4, first vandalising a motorcycle outside a local store before turning violent. CCTV footage showed Paterson attempting to…
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Kok River pollution triggers health alert in Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai
The discovery of arsenic and lead contamination in the Kok River, particularly in the Mae Ai district of Chiang Mai province, has prompted health warnings for residents in both Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai. Levels of arsenic and lead were found to exceed the standard limits, with arsenic measured at 0.026 mg/litre and lead at 0.076 mg/litre. The acceptable levels…
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Chinese fugitive arrested in Bangkok after two decades on the run
Thai police have apprehended a 52 year old Chinese national, owner of a popular mala restaurant in Bangkok, for allegedly shooting a compatriot in 2003. The suspect, Zhang Lao Er, had been evading police for over two decades before being captured. Yesterday, April 5, Police Major General Witaya Sriprasertphap directed the arrest of Zhang in connection with an outstanding warrant…
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Phatthalung man burns thief’s motorcycle after banana theft
A 45 year old man from Phatthalung set a motorcycle ablaze after catching a thief stealing bananas from his garden. The incident occurred at 9.30pm yesterday, April 5, when Bunrin (surname withheld) discovered the thief in his banana plantation in Mueang district’s Na Nod subdistrict. Bunrin, who cultivates namwa, egg, and cavendish bananas on his four rai plot, has faced…
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Thai man brandishes knife over pad Thai order blunder
A 32 year old man became agitated and wielded a knife at a convenience store in Chon Buri after ordering pad Thai without Chinese chives, only to find them included. The incident occurred yesterday, April 5. Officers from Mueang Chon Buri Police Station received a report of the man, Thakorn, entering a convenience store at Mueang district’s Na Pa subdistrict, with…
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Fatal crash on Bangkok expressway leaves woman dead, man injured
A collision occurred on the Chalerm Maha Nakhon Expressway in Klong Toei, Bangkok, when a car crashed into the rear of a parked six-wheel truck. The female driver died at the scene, while a male passenger in the front seat sustained severe injuries. Police Lieutenant Colonel Phakamart Kamonsan from the Expressway Police Station 1 and her team, along with rescue…
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Woman arrested after cutting painter’s rope in high-rise incident
A woman charged with cutting a rope used by a painter in a high-profile 2021 incident has been apprehended. She had evaded a court summons after being convicted of attempted murder and property damage. Known for her reclusive behaviour, she was finally captured by police. In 2021, a painter working on a 32-storey building in Pak Kret was forced to…
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Bangkok street cleaner attacked in viral video, governor vows action (video)
A video shared on the Red Skull XXX page has sparked significant public discussion. The clip shows a Bangkok street cleaner being violently struck by a man, culminating in a blow from behind that causes the cleaner to fall to the ground. The accompanying post noted, “Influential person hits street cleaner in Samphanthawong district. This is all the information available…
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ASEAN nations swiftly react to US tariffs, Thailand faces criticism
Several ASEAN and Asian countries swiftly responded to US tariff challenges, drawing criticism of aloofness and confusion from a government critic. Sirikanya Tansakun, a member of the opposition People’s Party, yesterday, April 5, highlighted how nations within the ASEAN bloc and Asia, affected by varying tariff rates, have reacted. Vietnam has initiated dialogue with Washington to address trade imbalances, gaining…
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Chinese tourist found dead on Pattaya beach with unexplained injuries
A 40 year old Chinese tourist, holding a Thailand Privilege Card visa, was discovered dead on Yin Yom Beach in South Pattaya yesterday morning, April 5. The man, who had bruises on his forehead and neck, was found face down behind a hotel. Police Lieutenant Colonel Saijai Khamjulla of the Pattaya City Police Station was informed of the incident at…
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51 Thai provinces brace for storms and severe heat
Weather forecasts indicate that 51 provinces in Thailand, including Bangkok, are experiencing thunderstorms, strong winds, and some hail. The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) warns of severe heat in parts of the region, with a 20% chance of thunderstorms in Bangkok as of today, April 6. The weather forecast for the next 24 hours reveals that a moderate high-pressure system from…
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Chon Buri hospital simulates mass crash ahead of Songkran chaos
With the deadly Songkran road rush just around the corner, one hospital in Chon Buri isn’t taking any chances—staging a mass casualty drill to brace for the holiday’s inevitable accident surge. Samitivej Sriracha Hospital recently ran a full-scale emergency exercise simulating a horrific collision between a passenger truck and a motorcycle that left 15 people “injured.” The high-intensity drill, though staged,…
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Earthquake fears rattle Songkran hotel bookings by 25%
Thailand’s most festive time of year is shaping up to be a major letdown—hotel bookings for Songkran have taken a nosedive, thanks to shaky nerves over last month’s earthquake. The Thai Hotels Association (THA) revealed on Thursday, April 3 that reservations across seven major tourist destinations have dropped by 25% compared to last year’s festival, spelling bad news for the…
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Teen racers busted in Phuket midnight police crackdown
Reckless teen bikers got a rude awakening this week as Wichit Police swooped in on a notorious Phuket racing hotspot, hauling in 17 underage riders and seizing 10 souped-up motorbikes in a late-night sting. The crackdown, carried out in the early hours of yesterday, April 4 in the Laem Dinso area, was part of an intensified campaign to tackle illegal…
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