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Thailand news, politics, business, crime, lifestyle, and tourism—stay updated with breaking news and in-depth analysis from Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, and beyond.
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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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Authorities seize methamphetamine and heroin shipments along Mekong River
Authorities in north-eastern Thailand intercepted two separate narcotics shipments this week, seizing more than 1.2 million methamphetamine pills and 148 kilograms of heroin during coordinated operations involving military and police units. On 26 January 2026, the 2nd Army Area Command confirmed that the seizures were carried out under a regional directive to intensify drug suppression along border routes and river…
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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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Former officer shoots motorcycle taxi driver dead
A former municipal officer fatally shot a motorcycle taxi driver at a taxi stand in Ratchada Soi 10, Huai Khwang district, Bangkok, on the morning of 26 January 2026. Police from Huai Khwang Police Station received a report at 9.00am on 26 January 2026 of a shooting resulting in a death at the entrance of Soi Prachasanti 11-2, within Ratchadaphisek…
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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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Large methamphetamine cache found at roadside electric pole
Police in Chachoengsao province are investigating the discovery of a large quantity of methamphetamine pills found abandoned in a residential community. The drugs were discovered on 25 January 2026, at approximately 11.00am, after villagers in Moo 8, Ban Song subdistrict, Phanom Sarakham district, reported a suspicious sack placed at the base of an electric pole along a roadside alley. According…
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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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Jealousy-fueled argument leads to ping pong bomb explosion in Pattaya
In Pattaya, a dispute driven by jealousy resulted in an accidental explosion involving a homemade ‘ping pong bomb’ earlier today. A 27 year old Norwegian-Thai man, identified as Christian Kamma, unintentionally detonated the device during an argument with his 23 year old wife, Phatcharida Kamma. The blast injured both of them and two friends. The incident unfolded at 46/1 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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British man and Thai women arrested over 300m baht investment scam
A British national and five Thai women have been detained on allegations of conducting an investment scam that reportedly misled over 400 individuals, predominantly retirees. The arrests occurred in the provinces of Chon Buri and Nakhon Ratchasima, executed by officers from the Economic Crime Suppression Division. The British individual, identified as 52 year old Bradley, along with the women, allegedly…
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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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Officials destroy opium plantation in raid
Officials from multiple Thai government agencies carried out a coordinated operation to destroy an opium plantation and seize illegal weapons in Wiang Sa district, Nan province, on 24 January 2026. The operation took place in Ban Phu Fah Mai, Village No. 8, Yab Hua Na subdistrict, where officers identified and destroyed one plot of opium classified as a Category 5…
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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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Twelve arrested over fatal shooting of juvenile in Bangkok
Police arrested twelve people on 23 January 2026 in connection with the fatal shooting of a 13-year-old boy in Bang Khen district, Bangkok. One suspect remains at large, along with two firearms believed to have been used in the attack. The shooting occurred late on 22 January 2026 near a canal bridge in Soi Phahonyothin 57, Anusawari subdistrict. The victim…
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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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