Six Cambodians held in Trat crab meat smuggling case
A joint maritime operation in Trat intercepted a Cambodian boat allegedly involved in crab meat smuggling yesterday, April 2, seizing multiple crates of picked crab meat and detaining six Cambodian crew members.
Reporters said the special investigation task force of the Thai Maritime Enforcement Command Centre Region 1 worked with related agencies to launch the operation in waters off Khlong Yai district.
The operation targeted marine smuggling, said to have posed a threat to Thailand’s maritime security and economy, in line with government policy and the Royal Thai Navy commander’s orders.
Officials said they seized 66 crates of picked crab meat that had been illegally smuggled into Thailand. They also found two empty Cambodian boats that were preparing to collect goods from Thailand for export abroad, indicating a cross-border operation planned in stages.
Khaosod reported that six suspects were taken into custody. Officials said the detainees were crew members from the three boats, with two on each vessel.
The arrests were made in waters between Chalalai pier and the area under Marine Task Force 182. Officers then took the suspects, the boats and the seized items to the multipurpose pier in Khlong Yai district for legal proceedings.
The suspects were initially charged under the Customs Act, Immigration Act and the Emergency Decree on Fisheries.
Officials are waiting for support teams from related agencies to formally record the arrests before handing the suspects to investigators at Khlong Yai Police Station for further legal action.
Elsewhere, Thai police intercepted a foreign fishing vessel attempting to smuggle marine goods into Thailand, seizing a significant haul of shellfish. The operation highlights the nation’s commitment to combating illegal fishing and protecting its maritime resources.
The haul consisted of 90 sacks of shellfish, each sack weighing 45 kilogrammes, with an average of 100 shellfish per kilogramme, totalling 4,050 kilogrammes. The estimated value of this illegal catch surpassed 200,000 baht.
Latest Thailand News
Follow The Thaiger on Google News:
