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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    New in July: Save 10% for life on family health plans in Thailand

    Cigna has a special offer this July for families in Thailand. When you sign up three or more people on a family health plan, you will save 10% on your premiums for life. This deal helps you get affordable, high-quality...

  • Illegal logging racket busted in South Thailand

    Illegal logging racket busted in South Thailand

    Underwater rescue teams from the Rom Sai Rescue Foundation in Satun province uncovered an illegal logging operation yesterday. Acting on a tip-off, they discovered submerged timber in Ban Thung Mai, Nam Phut subdistrict, La-ngu district, strategically hidden to evade detection. Although only remnants of the timber were found, the concealment was sophisticated. Previously, officials were alerted to illegal logging in…

  • Throttle warning: Thailand’s motorcycle market may hit the brakes

    Throttle warning: Thailand’s motorcycle market may hit the brakes

    Thailand’s motorcycle market is revving up but the industry’s top brass are warning it could stall in the slow lane before year’s end. While production and sales of motorcycles jumped in the first five months of 2025, the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) says a cocktail of weak consumer spending, tight lending, and political unrest could derail the sector. Surapong…

  • Udon Thani woman scammed by fake dentist out of 1 million baht

    Udon Thani woman scammed by fake dentist out of 1 million baht

    A 34 year old woman from a veterinary hospital in Udon Thani has fallen victim to a scam, losing nearly 1 million baht. The fraudster posed as a charming dentist, luring her into investing in luxury goods through an app. Initially engaging in friendly conversation, the scammer eventually persuaded her to invest, resulting in a loss of 849,500 baht. Anna…

  • Bar host brawl in Pattaya leaves one critically injured

    Bar host brawl in Pattaya leaves one critically injured

    More than ten bar hosts from two entertainment venues in Pattaya were involved in a violent altercation in a rented room on Tuesday, July 8, leaving one man with a serious head injury. The owner of the rented property, located in South Pattaya, filed a complaint with Mueang Pattaya Police Station after over ten men forced their way into the…

  • Thai politician’s son bolts after gambling bust ends in car carnage

    Thai politician’s son bolts after gambling bust ends in car carnage

    A Thai politician’s son is at the centre of a high-speed police chase drama, after he rammed a police car, dodged bullets, and ditched his bullet-ridden vehicle at a temple before fleeing on foot. The chaos erupted in Nonthaburi on Wednesday, July 9 when officers from the Crime Suppression Division moved in on a suspected online gambling den in Sai…

  • Melioidosis kills 72: Thai health ministry issues urgent warning

    Melioidosis kills 72: Thai health ministry issues urgent warning

    The Ministry of Public Health has issued a warning about the melioidosis disease, which has resulted in 72 deaths and 1,676 infections. The disease can be contracted through contact with contaminated soil or water, or even by inhaling contaminated dust. It is advised to avoid wading through water or mud and to consume only cooked food. If symptoms develop, medical…

  • Tuk tuk and truck drivers summoned after shocking Yaowarat crash

    Tuk tuk and truck drivers summoned after shocking Yaowarat crash

    Police summoned both a truck driver and a tuk tuk driver for legal proceedings following the circulation of a viral video showing a shocking collision on Yaowarat Road in Bangkok. The video, widely shared on Thai social media this week, shows a 10-wheel truck travelling in the middle lane veering into a tuk tuk carrying three passengers. At the moment…

  • Brawling cat impaled on fence sparks Udon Thani rescue

    Brawling cat impaled on fence sparks Udon Thani rescue

    A cat found itself impaled on a fence after a night of fighting, prompting a rescue operation in Udon Thani. At 12.45pm yesterday, July 10, rescue volunteers from the Thammasat Foundation were called to help a cat trapped on a fence in Mueang Udon Thani district. The incident occurred on a fence approximately 3 metres high, located in a residential area…

  • Half-Half travel scheme rebooted: Snag your subsidies fast

    Half-Half travel scheme rebooted: Snag your subsidies fast

    After days of online chaos, Thailand’s travel subsidies are finally back on track, with the Tourism Authority promising smooth sailing for millions hungry to snap up cut-price getaways. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) announced yesterday, July 10, that it has resolved technical glitches plaguing the online registration for the Half-Half Thai Travel programme, paving the way for registration to…

  • Off his rod: Drugged-up thug batters dad with iron bar

    Off his rod: Drugged-up thug batters dad with iron bar

    A drugged-up thug has left a sleepy Thai village living in fear after battering his elderly father with an iron bar in yet another psychotic rampage. Police in Chon Buri were forced to bring out shields, wooden poles, and even stun guns to subdue 38 year old Suwat Boonman, who allegedly attacked his 67 year old dad so violently that…

  • Thailand video news | Russian tourists steal 160,000 baht worth of cannabis from Thai clinic, Malaysia police helicopter crashes during drill

    Thailand video news | Russian tourists steal 160,000 baht worth of cannabis from Thai clinic, Malaysia police helicopter crashes during drill

    In today’s Thailand video news, Alex and Jay bring you top stories from across Thailand and Southeast Asia. This episode features a bold cannabis heist by Russian tourists in Chon Buri, a dramatic visa crackdown on Koh Phangan, and a controversial call to ban sex for under-22s in Thailand. We also cover a bus crash in Phetchaburi, a heartwarming birthday…

  • Wild elephants forage for food, wreak havoc in Prachin Buri

    Wild elephants forage for food, wreak havoc in Prachin Buri

    A group of five wild elephants, including a mother and calf, from Thap Lan National Park, invaded a worker’s home late at night, causing significant damage as they searched for food. The incident, which marks the sixth consecutive day the elephants have roamed outside the park, occurred yesterday, July 10, in Prachin Buri province. The elephants, part of a herd…

  • Pensioner’s last bang: Thai OAP dies after love hotel boom boom

    Pensioner’s last bang: Thai OAP dies after love hotel boom boom

    A randy Thai pensioner who checked into a short-time love hotel with a much younger woman died doing what many men only dream of, after a steamy round of boom boom. The 76 year old man keeled over and died mid-romp at a no-frills love shack in Phunphin district, Surat Thani, sending the terrified woman sprinting for help. Police were…

  • Koh Samui thief nailed by GPS hidden in stolen fan

    Koh Samui thief nailed by GPS hidden in stolen fan

    A brazen thief on Koh Samui thought he could get away with snatching a fan under the cover of darkness—until a hidden GPS tracker led police straight to his door. Police in Koh Samui, Surat Thani province, arrested a man after a stolen fan equipped with a GPS device exposed his hiding place in a labour camp. The drama unfolded…

  • American tourist assaulted by Pattaya bar owner over alleged video recording

    American tourist assaulted by Pattaya bar owner over alleged video recording

    A foreign bar owner in Pattaya physically assaulted an American tourist in the early hours of this morning allegedly for recording a video on the premises. The 38 year old American man, identified as Raf, reported the assault at Mueang Pattaya Police Station at 2.50am, today, July 11. He arrived with visible injuries and presented a video of the incident…

  • Blue murder: Deadly sea dragon resurfaces off Phuket (video)

    Blue murder: Deadly sea dragon resurfaces off Phuket (video)

    Holidaymakers in Phuket have been warned to steer well clear of the blue sea dragon, a venomous sea creature that looks like it’s flown straight out of a fantasy film but packs a real-life, potentially deadly sting. The rare and otherworldly blue sea dragon, also known as Glaucus atlanticus, has made a surprise reappearance at Karon Beach after nearly two years out…

  • Thaksin lifts lid on power plays as Bhumjaithai walks out

    Thaksin lifts lid on power plays as Bhumjaithai walks out

    In a no-holds-barred political confessional, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has laid bare the fierce rivalries, power plays and behind-the-scenes bargaining threatening to tip Thailand’s fragile government into chaos. During the 55 Years Nation Exclusive Talk: Breaking Through Thailand’s Crisis Chapter 1 at the Eastin Grand Phayathai Hotel on Wednesday, July 9, Thaksin delivered a candid assessment of Thailand’s political…

  • Sunk costs: Phuket tourists rescued as dive trip springs a leak

    Sunk costs: Phuket tourists rescued as dive trip springs a leak

    Five foreign tourists had to be dramatically rescued off the Phuket coast after their dive boat sprang a leak and started taking on water mid-voyage. A dive trip turned into a soggy nightmare on Wednesday afternoon when a tour boat carrying five foreign holidaymakers began leaking on the way back from the idyllic islands of southern Thailand. The drama unfolded…

  • Fake police kidnap and extort Chinese tourist in Pattaya

    Fake police kidnap and extort Chinese tourist in Pattaya

    Four Thai men posed as police officers and extorted 200,000 baht from a Chinese tourist in Pattaya by falsely accusing the victim of involvement in a call centre scam gang. The 52 year old Chinese victim, Lin, filed a complaint against the four imposters following the extortion incident on July 10. He lost two mobile phones, valued at over 100,000…

  • Thailand deluge: TMD warns of heavy rainfall and flash floods

    Thailand deluge: TMD warns of heavy rainfall and flash floods

    The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has issued a weather warning for today, predicting heavy rainfall in 41 provinces across Thailand, with some areas experiencing intense downpours covering 70% of the region. Eight provinces have been specifically cautioned to be on alert for flash floods and rapid water flow due to accumulated rainfall. These provinces include Chiang Rai, Phayao, Nan, Phrae,…

  • Retired officer arrested after failed Lop Buri armed robbery attempt

    Retired officer arrested after failed Lop Buri armed robbery attempt

    A retired 66 year old military officer has been apprehended following an attempted armed robbery at a convenience store in Lop Buri. The suspect, who held a gun to a staff member, failed to steal any money, citing financial need as his motive. At 12.05am today, July 10, Lop Buri’s 191 Radio Centre received reports of a male suspect brandishing…

  • Man arrested after temple shooting in Thonburi leaves two dead

    Man arrested after temple shooting in Thonburi leaves two dead

    A 35 year old man was arrested following a shooting at a well-known temple in Thonburi, where two people were killed. The suspect claimed the act resulted from a dream. Police discovered an arsenal of weapons at his home. At 6am today, July 10, Police Lieutenant Withoon Saengchompoo, Deputy Inspector of Phasi Charoen Police Station, received a report of a…

  • Cambodians detained for illegal entry into Thailand amid job crisis

    Cambodians detained for illegal entry into Thailand amid job crisis

    A group of Cambodian nationals were apprehended for illegally entering Thailand due to economic hardships and lack of employment opportunities in their home country. Yesterday, July 9, at 9pm, police detained nine people walking from Baan Dong Ngu in Pa Rai subdistrict. The group, who previously worked repairing second-hand shoes at Rong Kluea Market, returned to Cambodia following recent border…

  • Bangkok police bust illegal cannabis shop, arrest 28 year old man

    Bangkok police bust illegal cannabis shop, arrest 28 year old man

    A significant operation led by the Bangkok Metropolitan Police Bureau resulted in the arrest of a 28 year old man, Worapong, at a cannabis shop in Din Daeng, Bangkok. The raid, which took place yesterday, July 9, uncovered illicit substances including psychedelic mushrooms, cannabis-infused electronic cigarettes, and edibles. The police operation was spearheaded by Police Lieutenant General Siam Boonsom, along…

  • Koh Phangan police arrest two for drugs and firearms offences

    Koh Phangan police arrest two for drugs and firearms offences

    Yesterday, July 9, police forces on Koh Phangan, in collaboration with local administrative officials, conducted a crime sweep resulting in the arrest of two people for drug and firearms offences. Police Lieutenant Colonel Jaroenchai Boonklieng, along with the special operations unit from the Surat Thani Provincial Police, executed the operation from their base in Baan Sri Thanu, Koh Phangan district,…

  • Udon Thani crash claims life of young student

    Udon Thani crash claims life of young student

    Two female students from Udon Thani Technical College were involved in a tragic accident at Nong Samrong intersection in Mueang district, Udon Thani, yesterday, July 9 at 6pm. One died and another was seriously injured after their motorcycle collided with a car. Police Lieutenant Chakrapong Tomtam from Mueang Udon Thani Police Station received the accident report and coordinated with Udon…

  • Kuwaiti youths’ noisy motorcycle races disrupt Pattaya’s Soi Yensabai

    Kuwaiti youths’ noisy motorcycle races disrupt Pattaya’s Soi Yensabai

    Residents on Soi Yensabai in Pattaya City, Thailand, were disturbed in the early hours of today, July 10, by a group of predominantly Kuwaiti youths racing motorcycles through the streets. This marked the second consecutive night of such disruptions, leaving locals unable to get a peaceful night’s sleep. In response, Police Lieutenant Colonel Suchart Dusadee, who leads the patrol unit…

  • Russian trio steal 2kg cannabis worth 160,000 baht from Thai clinic

    Russian trio steal 2kg cannabis worth 160,000 baht from Thai clinic

    In Chon Buri, Thailand, three Russian nationals are alleged to have stolen 2 kilogrammes of premium organic cannabis, valued at 160,000 baht, from a cannabis clinic in Banglamung district. The theft took place on the evening of July 4, around 9pm. The suspects fled the scene in a blue Ford sedan, leaving the clinic owner with significant financial losses. A…

  • Phuket tourism boom: 223 billion baht from Russian, Chinese visitors

    Phuket tourism boom: 223 billion baht from Russian, Chinese visitors

    Phuket has emerged as a popular destination for Russian, Chinese, and Indian tourists in the first five months of this year, contributing approximately 223 billion baht in revenue, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). Kamolphan Chalermsakulrat, deputy director of TAT Phuket, reported yesterday, July 9, that the island province received 5.85 million visitors between January and May, reflecting…

  • Cyber police detain six over Thai baht fraud scheme

    Cyber police detain six over Thai baht fraud scheme

    Cyber police have detained six people linked to an international fraud scheme that deceived a prominent Japanese corporation into transferring over 228 million baht to a Thai bank account using fake email invoices. Police successfully froze 215 million baht (US$6.58 million) before it could be laundered and are collaborating with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in the United States…