Chinese engineer arrested in Thailand with 41.5 tonnes of illegal chemicals (video)

The National Resources and Environmental Natural Resources (NREN) raided a factory in the central province of Prachin Buri, discovering 41.5 tonnes of chemical substances and arresting a Chinese engineer found working alone.

This factory raid followed earlier action on September 3, when officials raided three recycling factories in the area. The three factories were ordered to close in accordance with Section 37 of the Criminal Law and the Factory Act, with their operating licences cancelled.

However, residents reported to officials that the three factories continued to operate as usual following the raid. Consequently, officials returned to the factories on Saturday, September 2.

During the operation, officers encountered a Chinese man, 46 year old Zhang Guotung, who identified himself as an engineer. The search revealed approximately 41.5 tonnes of toxic and illegal substances stockpiled in the factories, including:

• Antimony and antimony compounds
• Beryllium and beryllium compounds
• Cadmium and cadmium compounds
• Lead and lead compounds
• Selenium and selenium compounds
• Tellurium and tellurium compounds
• Arsenic and arsenic compounds
• Mercury and mercury compounds
• Thallium and thallium compounds
• Contaminated waste

Each of these substances was prepared for extraction to obtain lead, copper, and aluminium. These extracted materials were intended for shipment to China.

If these hazardous substances come into contact with water, they can react to produce ammonia. Inhaling high concentrations of ammonia can cause dizziness and increase cancer risk.

In a related incident, in August, police raided Chinese-owned aluminium smelting plants in the central provinces of Pathum Thani and Samut Sakhon due to their illegal operations and adverse impact on human health and the environment.

A total of 12,387 tonnes of aluminium dross was found in 8,258 bags but no personnel were present at the site. Police reported that they identified Chinese and Thai nationals involved in the illegal plant operations, although no updates on arrests or questioning of the suspects were provided.

In October, another Chinese-owned warehouse in the Mae Sot district of Tak province was raided. Officers discovered 830 tonnes of drug precursors stored in 360 aluminium tanks. A Thai national listed as the renter of the warehouse is currently under questioning.