Thailand News
Thailand news, politics, business, crime, and lifestyle—get breaking updates from Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, and beyond. Stay informed on Thai society, economy, tourism, and expat life with The Thaiger.
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Sponsored Do foreigners get free healthcare in Thailand?
Thailand’s healthcare system is well-regarded across Southeast Asia, with options ranging from public hospitals to world-class private facilities. But when it comes to foreign residents or tourists, healthcare access isn’t as straightforward. So, do foreigners get free healthcare in Thailand?...
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Thai authorities uncover illegal e-waste importation at three factories in central Thailand
An illegal importation of electronic waste, or e-waste, was uncovered during a raid by the Department of Industrial Works and the Pollution Control Department. They discovered over a thousand tonnes of the waste in three factories located in Pathum Thani and Chachoengsao provinces. The inspection took place today, initiated by Police Lieutenant General Puthidech Bungrapheu, of the Office of the…
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Torsak Sukvimol approved as Thailand’s new national police chief
The Police Commission officially approved the appointment of Deputy National Police Chief General Torsak Sukvimol to the position of national police chief. Torsak will take over from Police General Damrongsak Kittiprapas, who is set to retire on Saturday, September 30. The decision was made during a meeting of the Police Commission, chaired by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, at the Royal…
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Two dead in Nakhon Phanom-Rayong bus crash: Sleep-deprived driver suspected
A bus crash on the Nakhon Phanom-Rayong route resulted in two fatalities and two injuries. The incident occurred at about 10.30am today. The bus veered off the road and crashed into a concrete barrier on the edge of the motorway. Traffic investigator Prakarn Pladech from Huay Yai Police Station reported the incident and emergency response units from several agencies rushed…
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Thai university student arrested over illicit child content trade on Line platform
The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) forwarded a case involving a well-known university student who administered a covert group sharing explicit child content. The individual circulated the illicit material and advertised it for sale to minors under 18 years of age on the Line platform, with prices ranging from 150 to 500 baht (US$4 to US$14). This information was revealed…
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Tee turmoil: Husband’s golf caddy ‘mistress’ request sees wife slice wildy
A Thai man almost found himself on the fairway to heaven after he asked his wife if he could take his golf caddy as a mistress – she stabbed him three times in Chon Buri province. Officers from Don Hua Lor Police Station swung into action today, September 28, heading to a rented room in Mueang Chon Buri district, Chon…
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Dams draining, Ubon drowning: PM voices dual flooding woes in Thailand
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin voiced concerns regarding the diminishing water levels in major reservoirs and dams across the nation, even as the province of Ubon Ratchathani endures severe flooding. The prime minister, accompanied by the agriculture minister, Captain Thammanat Prompow, was apprised of the situation at the Royal Irrigation Department (RID) on Wednesday. In the briefing, the 61 year old…
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LAO officer’s pill-fering antics: Trafficking two million amphetamine pills
A senior officer from a Local Administrative Organisation (LAO) in Lopburi province has been apprehended for trafficking two million amphetamine tablets. The officer, who confessed to having been involved in 12 such operations, was paid 150,000 baht per job. Police officers from Chiang Rai’s Provincial Police Division, Pan Police Station, Border Patrol Police Division 5, Northern Border Drug Prevention and…
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Thai woman linked to fatal scam arrested at Cambodia border
A 22 year old woman was apprehended at the Aranyaprathet immigration checkpoint in Sa Kaeo while returning from Cambodia for her involvement in a fatal scam. The arrest was made yesterday, September 27, shortly after the woman, Jirapinya Naeyued, crossed the border through the Ban Khlong Luk checkpoint from Poipet town in Cambodia. The woman was arrested on charges of…
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Frisky fruits found in Thai village: Locals amused by nature’s naughty creations
A 70 year old local from Thung Kachai, Kuea Wiang, Dok Khamtai, Phayao, Thailand, discovered two uncommon fruits, one from a local jackfruit tree and the other from a lime tree, bearing an uncanny resemblance to a penis and a vagina. The jackfruit, although small and brown, similar to a duck’s egg, had an odd protrusion in its centre, bearing…
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Salesman hospitalised after pickup truck collides with parked trailer in northern Thailand
A major traffic collision left a salesman hospitalised and rocked the Mae Sot District community in the early morning hours of this morning on Chalerm Thep Road, Tak Province, northern Thailand. The unfortunate incident at 6am involved a pickup truck, under the control of a 29 year old salesman, which collided with the rear of a parked trailer. The impact…
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Batwoman’s viral revelation: 20 new bat coronaviruses raise alarm bells
A groundbreaking study spearheaded by Batwoman recently brought to light over 20 new strains of coronaviruses harboured by bats, all of which embody a high risk of transmission to humans. This is no blood-sucking joke. The discovery has sparked global apprehension regarding the looming threat of subsequent outbreaks. Dr Shi Zhengli, director of the Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases at…
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Baht-tered and bruised: Bahraini’s pocket picked by Pattaya transwoman
In a twist of misfortune, a Bahraini man ended up at Mueang Pattaya Police Station seeking assistance after falling victim to a Thai transwoman pickpocket in Pattaya, leaving him 10,000 baht lighter The foreign victim, 55 year old Hasan Almuqahwi, reported the incident to Thai police at 1am today, September 28. He explained that a Thai woman and a transwoman…
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Central Thailand’s ‘high’ note: Historic drug bust lands four in cuffs
A significant drug bust occurred in Nakhon Pathom province late last night, resulting in the arrest of four suspects and the seizure of the largest amount of narcotics ever recorded in a single operation in Thailand. The operation, part of an ongoing drug suppression mission, took place at a house in the Mueang district of Nakhon Pathom, where yesterday, September…
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Cat-astrophe: Ayutthaya homeowner’s pet swallowed by python
A large python was found in a house in Ayutthaya province after it fell through the ceiling. The snake had consumed a rare breed of cat, known as a Khao Manee, before being captured by rescue workers and returned to the wild. The house owner, 33 year old Chonisara Rujinath, was shocked to discover the snake in her home, particularly…
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Thailand’s DES ministry launches Anti Online Scam Centre amid rising fraud
Amidst growing concerns over online fraud, the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (DES), in unison with the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) police and other associated agencies, is launching an Anti Online Scam Operation Centre (AOC). The AOC, which begins its operations on November 1, is set to function as a war room, implementing technology to provide intelligent assistance,…
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Pickpocketing pair pinched: Cambodian couple confesses to Bangkok crime spree
Police arrested a Cambodian couple for more than 100 pickpocketing offences in different areas of Bangkok. The Khmer couple confessed to their crimes and revealed that they had learned their dishonest skills from Vietnamese thieves in Thailand. Pickpocketing complaints from both Thais and foreigners in various business districts of Bangkok, such as Sukhumvit, Nan, Silom, and Sathon, started pouring into…
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Gemstone caper: DSI rocks the boat, suing 32 scammers in 227 million baht bluff
The Special Case Investigation Department (DSI) filed a lawsuit against a scammer and her 31 associates for soliciting fraudulent investment in precious gemstones, causing damages exceeding 227 million baht. The case encompasses over 50,000 documents and the suspects will be handed over to the prosecutor on September 28. The DSI revealed that the Financial Business Crime Division had been investigating…
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Prachin Buri villages soaked as forest stream’s overflow leads to distress in central Thailand
Rapid rainfall across Prachin Buri province in central Thailand caused a forest stream from Thap Lan National Park to overflow into Khlong Lam Phaya Than, resulting in the flooding of five villages. It has been reported that residents are greatly distressed by the event, and schools have been ordered to close for one day. The stream, originating between Wang Nam…
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Twisted tale of chubby-chasing motorcycle thief ends in jail suicide
The chubby-chasing motorcycle thief, who used a dating app to target victims and steal their motorcycles, reportedly committed suicide while in custody at Sam Kork Police Station in the central province of Pathum Thani. The deceased prisoner, Pacharapon, was arrested in Ayutthaya province on Monday, September 25 before officers transferred him to Sam Kork Police Station in Pathum Thani, where…
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Thailand skies set to THEOS-2: A space-age milestone on the horizon
The forthcoming launch of Thailand’s second earth observation satellite, THEOS-2, on October 7, was announced by Supamas Isarabhakdi, the Minister of Higher Education Science Research and Innovation. At a recent press conference, Supamas shared that the low-earth orbit satellite’s launch will be a significant milestone for the country’s expertise in space technology and expressed plans for the THEOS-3 project. Supamas…
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Border Banter: Thai and Cambodian PMs tackle disputes and scams in talks
The discussion between Srettha Thavisin, the Prime Minister of Thailand, and his Cambodian counterpart, Hun Manet, will primarily revolve around the issues of Thai-Cambodia border disputes and call centre scams. The meeting is regarded as a significant move towards strengthening the bilateral ties between the two nations, as this is the Thai PM’s first visit to an Association of Southeast…
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Love on a ledge drama: Thai man rescued after his suicide attempt at Bangkok condo
Ratburana Police Station officers and rescuers successfully rescued a Thai man who attempted to commit suicide at a condominium in Bangkok after an emotional domestic dispute with his girlfriend. The police and rescue team were called to the five-storey condominium on Soi Suksawat 62 in Bangkok’s Thung Khru district at around 9.20am yesterday, 27 September. On arrival, officers found a…
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Currency crunch: Thai SET under strain as rates rise and baht bites
A recent policy rate hike of 0.25% by the Bank of Thailand, coupled with the weakening baht, is placing pressure on the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET). Analysts have suggested this after observing that the index slipped below the resistance level of 1,500 points. The Thai bourse experienced a downturn at the opening yesterday, following a 0.88% drop to conclude…
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Permit panic: Thailand spots 3,000+ migrant workers in hot water
The Department of Employment in Thailand identified over 3,000 migrant workers operating without required permits. This discovery was part of an ongoing clampdown on migrants engaged in jobs deemed off-limits for foreign workers. Between October of the previous year and yesterday, the department conducted random checks on 53,732 workplaces across the country that employ migrant labourers. These investigations revealed that…
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Thai police dismantle major drug syndicate seizing narcotics worth 300 million baht
In a first major operation under new leadership, the Thai Police successfully dismantled a significant drug syndicate, seizing 15 million methamphetamine pills, 443 heroin bars, 420 kilogrammes of crystal meth, and a significant quantity of Happy Water and Five Five drugs. The raid took place yesterday, at 11.30pm in a house in Nakhon Pathom. The operation, led by Deputy Commissioner,…
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Cluck-up chronicles: Novice cook’s chicken catastrophe roasts online
A social media post featuring a novice cook’s disastrous attempt at grilling chicken sparked hilarity among a group of homemakers. Despite following an online recipe, the result was far from successful, highlighting that not everyone possesses the culinary skills or magic touch to achieve a successful outcome in the kitchen. The post’s owner revealed that this was their first attempt…
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Thailand braces for heavy rain and strong winds, warns TMD
The Department of Meteorology (TMD) issued its 13th announcement, revealing that numerous provinces are set to be impacted by heavy rainfall today and tomorrow September 28-29. Strong winds, flash floods, and forest run-offs are expected in many areas. High waves are anticipated in the sea today. The announcement focused on the low-pressure area covering the western part of the northern…
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Tragic motorcycle collision kills two young men in Buriram province
A shocking collision between two motorcycles in Buriram province resulted in the tragic demise of two young men. Police Lieutenant Colonel Rek Wichian, deputy investigator of Nang Rong Police Station, Buriram, coordinated with medical staff from Nang Rong Hospital and Siam United Heart Rescue unit to investigate the incident that occurred at about 8pm yesterday. At the scene of the…
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Lopburi homeowners swing into action against monkey invasion
Homeowners in Lopburi province are calling for assistance from authorities as they battle an ongoing monkey invasion. The primates are wreaking havoc, causing significant damage to the properties and possessions of Lopburi residents and homeowners who are living in fear. A user on TikTok has highlighted the severity of the issue by posting a distressing clip of monkeys vandalising a…
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Unmasking the money: The underworld of ‘dummy accounts’ in illicit finance
A bank account referred to as a dummy account is typically held by a person who is not the actual owner. These accounts are commonly used in illicit financial activities such as fraudulent transfers, gambling, drug trafficking, or money laundering. Dummy accounts can be obtained in two main ways: 1. Paying someone else to open an account. 2. Deceiving or…
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