Brothers arrested for illegal alcohol linked to fatal incident

Two brothers have been arrested for their involvement in producing illegal alcohol in Bang Chan and selling it to local shops. Investigations are underway to determine if their products are linked to a fatal herbal alcohol incident that resulted in 19 illnesses and one death.

Orasa Thongboonrod of the Bangkok Area 5 Excise Department received a tip-off about illegal alcohol production at a house in Thap Chang, Saphan Sung district, Bangkok. The Bangkok Area 5 Excise Department, conducted a raid at around 5.45pm yesterday, August 25.

Upon arrival, officers encountered 46 year old Surasak Insam and 44 year old Surachai Insam who identified themselves as the homeowners. The officers introduced themselves and requested permission to search the premises. After ensuring the suspects were cooperative, the search started, revealing significant evidence.

The search uncovered four 200-litre plastic barrels, 11 20-litre plastic containers, a glass thermometer, a container filled with liquor, a plastic funnel, a magnifying glass, a 220-watt water pump, a PVC pipe with a pump attachment, one 1.5-litre bottle of mixed liquor, ten 20-litre water containers, and one 20-litre container of ethyl alcohol.

The suspects admitted to producing alcohol together and selling it to vendors who then distributed it to customers at various herbal alcohol stalls. They produced three 200-litre barrels of alcohol per batch, packaging 25 litres of the alcohol in opaque plastic bags and selling each bag for 900 baht.

The brothers were charged with producing alcohol without a license and possessing alcohol for sale in violation of Section 153, Paragraph One, and Section 191 of the Excise Tax Act of 2017. Both suspects were then taken to Bang Chan Police Station for further legal proceedings.

Expanding investigation

Police Lieutenant Colonel Charan Khuphonchuai, Deputy Inspector (Investigation) at Bang Chan Police Station, stated that they are currently questioning additional individuals involved. They are investigating whether the illegally produced alcohol was sold in Min Buri, where consumption led to severe health issues.

Preliminary findings confirmed that the arrested individuals are brothers, who work as labourers in landfilling and produce illegal alcohol on the side.

One person has died, and another remains in critical condition after consuming the herbal alcohol in Min Buri. The fatal herbal alcohol was made by mixing alcohol with water. Seventeen more individuals are undergoing dialysis due to the severe effects of the concoction.

The situation has drawn considerable attention due to the severe health implications and the illegal nature of alcohol production. Police are working diligently to trace the distribution network and ensure that all responsible parties are held accountable, reported KhaoSod.