Bangkok News
Bangkok news, politics, business, crime, and nightlife—stay updated with breaking stories, events, and expat updates from Thailand’s capital. Get the latest from The Thaiger, your trusted Bangkok news source.
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Woman survives kidnapping near her house in Bangkok
A Thai woman survived a kidnapping near her house in the Tao Poon neighbourhood of Bangkok on Sunday. Police officers managed to arrest the suspect, although his motive was not reported. The victim took to social media to warn people of the unexpected incident, sharing a video on TikTok. The suspect is seen in the video pulling her hand and…
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Security guard finds dead body of a motorcyclist at MEA Office Entrance in Bangkok
A security guard on Monday found the dead body of a motorcyclist at the entrance of the Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA) office in Bangkok’s Bang Na neighbourhood. It is suspected that the body had been there for three days during the Songkran Festival. On Monday, April 17, the first working day after the Songkran Holiday, a security guard detected an…
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Police detain 2 men over RCA Songkran shooting in Bangkok
UPDATE Two men have been arrested for allegedly committing the shooting at the busy RCA entertainment venue in Bangkok during a Songkran celebration on Sunday. Four people were injured by gunfire and four others were injured trying to flee the scene. Today at 3pm, police escorted the two suspects – 41 year old Natthanon and 19 year old Natthaphon –…
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Kenyan woman arrested for smuggling cocaine into Thailand
The Airport Interdiction Task Force (AITF) apprehended a Kenyan woman at Suvarnabhumi Airport on Sunday for smuggling cocaine into Thailand. The Secretary of the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB), Wichai Chaimongkon, disclosed details of the drug bust in a press conference yesterday. The AITF officers discovered 1,250 grammes of cocaine hidden in the luggage of the 45 year…
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Chinese man kidnapped and stuffed in a box for ransom in Thailand
A wealthy Chinese man was kidnapped from his condo in Bangkok, Thailand, on Friday. He was stuffed into a plastic box and transported to Hua Hin for the night and held for a ransom of nearly 4 million baht by a gang of Thai kidnappers, including his ex-girlfriend who is a beauty pageant contestant. It turns out the victim is wanted…
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Teenage mum finds lifeless body of one year old baby daughter dead in Bangkok
A heartbroken 17 year old mother yesterday contacted the police after discovering her one year old baby daughter dead on the bed in their rented room in the Tung Khru district of Bangkok. The circumstances surrounding the child’s untimely death remains a mystery, and a thorough investigation is currently underway. The family of the girl reported the baby’s death to…
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Bangkok taxi driver condemned for ripping off foreign tourists
Thai netizens condemned a Bangkok taxi driver for ripping off two foreign tourists. The driver was caught on a viral video charging the tourists 700 baht for about a 7 kilometre trip which was considered almost seven times more expensive than the standard fare. On Saturday, April 15, the Facebook page called Let Me Know If You Wanna Be Famous…
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Thailand set to cruise into marine tourism boom with revived project
Thailand’s Marine Department is set to revive the Cruise Terminal Development Project to cater for the growth in marine tourism. In 2018, Thailand ranked third globally for most cruise ship stopovers, with 581 ships stopping per year and 14% growth year on year. Despite this growth, the country lacks a legitimate standard cruise terminal. A department report showed that the…
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Prime minister’s unexpected trip to Khao San Road
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha made a surprising appearance at Khao San Road on Friday, taking part in a lively water fight with enthusiastic locals and tourists. Gen. Prayut, the United Thai Nation Party’s prime ministerial candidate, arrived at the well-known location for Songkran festivities on Friday afternoon, accompanied by key party members. Upon arrival, he engaged in a discussion about…
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EC justifies Songkran trips to monitor early voting
The Election Commission (EC) in Thailand has come under scrutiny after all six of its members travelled abroad during the Songkran holiday on taxpayer-funded inspection visits. Former election commissioner and current MP candidate for the Seri Ruam Thai Party, Somchai Srisutthiyakorn, criticized the move, questioning the purpose and timing of the trips, given that the General Election has not yet…
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Limited access to Khao San Road due to overcrowding
Police temporarily blocked access to the renowned backpacker haven of Khao San Road last night, as the Songkran event attracted an overwhelming number of participants. Police are urging new visitors to await the departure of those already at the venue before entering the 400-metre-long road in Phra Nakhon district. Songkran festivities kicked off yesterday and are expected to continue well…
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Beware of passport scam targetting British nationals in Thailand warns UK Foreign Office
The British Foreign Office issued a warning to both UK residents and expats in Thailand about a passport scam that is currently targetting British nationals in the kingdom. Fraudsters are attempting to capitalize on the recent strikes by government workers in the UK, which have caused delays in passport renewals, by promising to bypass the three-month waiting period for a…
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Porsche driver caught using fake registration plate to avoid tollway fees
A 69 year old Porsche driver who has a history of repeated traffic offences was charged by the police. The driver had been using a fake license plate to evade tollway fees on 22 separate occasions. The police took action after receiving a complaint from the legitimate owner of the license plate. Last year, Thailand introduced a new payment system…
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Thai woman fined 5,000 baht for getting boobs out at erotic pre-Songkran party
Police fined a nightclub owner 20,000 baht and a sexy Thai woman 5,000 baht after she got her boobs out and danced erotically at a Songkran party in Samut Prakarn province near Bangkok last week. Several entertainment venues in Bangkok have warmed up for the Thai New Year by hosting pre-Songkran events and parties before the official festival gets underway.…
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Bangkok rescue volunteers brawl over territory
It turns out, turf battles happen even among rescue volunteers. Rescue volunteer teams from Ruamkatanyu and Petchkasem foundations brawled over territory on Monday night following a motorcycle accident on Bamrung Road, TV Channel 7 reported. The teams initially attempted to negotiate but the talks turned into an argument, leading to members of both groups attacking each other. More rescuers from both…
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RTP warns public to be vigilant ahead of Songkran after 312 million baht stolen in online scams
The Royal Thai Police (RTP) cautioned the public to be extra vigilant ahead of the Songkran Festival after scammers last week fraudulently stole over 310 million baht in online extortion. The RTP reported over 5,300 fraud cases were reported by victims last week, with most complaints related to online shopping and bank transfer scams. Yesterday, Pol. Lt. Gen. Sompong Chingduang,…
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Repeat offender arrested in Bangkok after drugging woman, swindling over 1 million baht
The Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau arrested a Thai man at a shopping mall in the Sukhumvit neighbourhood of Bangkok yesterday after he allegedly drugged and swindled over 1 million baht from a woman. He was twice arrested on the same charge last year. The scammer, 32 year old Phachara Ninjiasakun, was arrested inside the shopping mall following a complaint made…
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Splash into Songkran! Silom Road to remain open for water fights in Bangkok
Bang Rak District Office officially announced that Silom Road, a popular destination for water fights in Bangkok during Songkran, will remain open this year. Locals and tourists can take part in the water fights on the streets and sidewalks of each Soi. After three years of being affected by the pandemic, the Songkran Festival and its accompanying water fights will…
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South Korean Embassy in Thailand ‘boogies’ to celebrate Songkran Festival (video)
The South Korean Embassy in Thailand got down and boogied in preparation for this week’s Songkran Festival. The embassy staff, including the South Korean Ambassador to Thailand, Moon Seoung-hyun, got into the Thai New Year festive spirit by taking part in the traditional “Ram Thai” dance. The two-minute video went viral, receiving over 400,000 views in just four days on…
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Bangkok voted No.3 top destination for backpackers 2023
Thailand‘s capital Bangkok sits among the top destinations for backpackers in 2023, according to UK retail company Cotswold Outdoor. Bangkok is a backpacker’s dream with cheap accommodation, delicious street food for a bargain, inexpensive beers, free activities, and a variety of public transport systems. While Thailand offers plenty of luxury travel options, it’s easy to have a blast in Bangkok…
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Thai woman attempts to commit suicide at a neighbour’s house in Bangkok
A Thai woman survived a suicide attempt at a neighbour’s house in Bangkok yesterday. The homeowner, a 70 year old woman named Kannika, alerted a rescue team after discovering a woman, later identified as 35 year old Bee, cut her own throat in her house in Soi Thoet Thai 21 in the Thon Buri district of Bangkok. Upon arrival, the…
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Prominent Thai doctor a suspect in case surrounding Chinese surrogacy gang
A prominent Thai doctor is a suspect in a case surrounding a Chinese surrogacy gang, Nation Thailand reported yesterday. This news comes after police raided a five-storey building in Bangkok’s Silom area on Tuesday, and found that a gang of Chinese and Myanmar nationals were holding two Chinese men for ransom. Police said the two victims were using the building to…
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Crooked trail of corruption uncovered after cops arrest bent revenue director for soliciting bribes
Royal Thai Police (RTP) yesterday uncovered a crooked trail of corruption worth 7 million baht following the arrest of an alleged bent government revenue director. RTP officers arrested, Pramual Saengkaewsri, a director in the Ratchathewi district of Bangkok on Wednesday in a hotel carpark as part of a police sting. The 57 year old was apprehended for soliciting bribes amounting to 3 million baht from a…
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Rogue cop with gambling addiction jailed for 50 years for gun theft
A rogue cop with a gambling addiction was sentenced to 270 years in prison for theft and illegal possession of 160 firearms. He will only serve 50 years as allowed under Thai law. Senior sergeant major Chaowarit Phumkajorn, from Pak Kret Police Station in Nonthaburi province, near Bangkok, was arrested in October in the Isaan province of Nong Khai after reportedly selling…
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10 secret hidden bars in Bangkok
Bangkok, Thailand’s bustling capital, is a city known for its vibrant nightlife and a seemingly endless array of bars and clubs. But for those who crave a unique experience away from the typical tourist hotspots, the city also boasts hidden gems waiting to be discovered. This exclusive guide will unveil 10 secret hidden bars in Bangkok, each with its distinct…
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Maldivian tourist caught smuggling 25 live birds out of Thailand
Officials at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok caught a tourist attempting to smuggle 25 exotic live birds out of Thailand on a flight to the Maldives yesterday morning, reports KhaoSod. Customs officials made quite the discovery when they inspected luggage destined to board flight PG711 to Malé in the Maldives at 9.20am, reported Prasert Sornsathapornkul, the Director of the Division for the…
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Man returns 75,500 baht he found at Bangkok ATM
A Thai man was praised for his honesty after he returned 75,500 baht he found at a Bangkok petrol station cash machine to its rightful owner. Lampakchee Police Station announced on its official Facebook page that Abdulrorsa Alqasim, a 22 year old Thai man, is a model citizen and an inspiration to the Lampakchee community for returning the money to…
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Thai auto industry shows resilience in 2023 Bangkok International Motor Show
The 2023 Bangkok International Motor Show came to an end on Sunday, and the numbers show that the Thai automotive industry is making a strong comeback. Car and motorcycle bookings increased by more than 35% year-on-year to 45,983 units, a figure attributed to an improving economy and the growing popularity of electric vehicles (EVs). Jaturon Komolmit, Vice-Chairman of Grand Prix…
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Governor Chadchart aims for no more than 6 deaths in Bangkok this Songkran
Governor of Bangkok Chadchart Sittipunt said that he hopes no more than six people will die during Songkran festivities in the capital of Thailand from April 13-15. Yesterday, Governor Chadchart chaired a meeting with Bangkok Alcoholic Beverage Control Committee to discuss measures to prevent alcohol-fuelled accidents, injuries, and deaths in Bangkok this Thai New Year. The committee will implement measures…
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Bangkok Police rescue 2 underage girls from prostitution ring
Bangkok Police swooped on a karaoke bar in the capital’s Don Mueang district and rescued two underage teenage girls forced into prostitution. The mamasan, who is said to have been orchestrating the operation, has been charged with multiple offences, including human trafficking. Acting on a tip from informants who believed that the establishment was involved in human trafficking, officers descended…
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