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 Long-term life in Thailand? 5 reasons private health insurance pays off in the long run
Thailand is a great place for expats and retirees, offering a warm climate, affordable living, and rich culture. However, healthcare can be tricky for foreigners since they aren’t eligible for public health coverage, and private care can be expensive. Private...
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Phuket loan sharks busted for 50% interest rate scam
Two men running an illegal loan shark operation in Phuket have been arrested after allegedly extorting desperate borrowers with sky-high interest rates. Their arrests come as part of a nationwide crackdown on unlawful debt practices and predatory lending. Phuket Immigration officers, working alongside the Immigration Bureau’s Crime Suppression Division 8 and Immigration Bureau 6, swooped in last Thursday, February 27,…
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Police seize 5 million meth pills after Kamphaeng Phet chase
A dramatic police chase unfolded yesterday when a pickup truck driver attempted to evade a checkpoint in Mueang district, Kamphaeng Phet province. The vehicle collided with an 18-wheeler, leading to the discovery of five million methamphetamine pills. At approximately 8pm, yesterday, March 3, Police Major General Opas Kongmueang, Kamphaeng Phet Provincial Police commander, and Police Colonel Kornwit Onthong, Kamphaeng Phet…
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Pattaya cracks down on shady grabs and sinking streets
Pattaya officials are cracking down on illegal land grabs and worsening flood woes, with urgent measures underway to reclaim public property and overhaul drainage systems. Mayor Poramet Ngampichet and Bang Lamung District Chief Patcharaphat Sritanyanon chaired an emergency meeting to address these pressing concerns, focusing on two major crises: illegal encroachment at Sukhawadee House and persistent flooding in the city’s…
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Brothers caught with over 1 kilo of meth in Samut Prakan raid
Over 1 kilogramme of powdered methamphetamine was discovered hidden in the home of two brothers accused of breaking into coin-operated machines in the Samut Prakan province. The pair was apprehended yesterday, March 3, by Bang Kaeo police officials, including Police Colonel Adirek Thongkamkaew, Deputy Police Colonel Chanwut Thiamwongkorn, Police Lieutenant Wason Wongrueng, and Police Captain Danai Kaewnan. The suspects, 35…
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Search continues for missing student in Nan River
Efforts continue into the third day to locate a missing 22 year old fourth-year student at Naresuan University, whose disappearance is believed to have occurred in the Nan River in Phitsanulok province. Relatives remain hopeful and are coordinating with local police. Since March 1, rescue teams have been tirelessly searching the river, and relatives have been camping at Suan Chom…
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DSI seeks arrest for major general in trafficking case
The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) forwarded an arrest warrant request for Major General Maung Chit Thu to the Attorney General. The case involves human trafficking and implicates Thai nationals. Officials are confident there is sufficient evidence for prosecution. Yesterday, March 3, at 4.30pm, Police Lieutenant Colonel Siriwich Kasemsub, Director of the Human Trafficking Case Division at the DSI, discussed…
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Thai woman accuses ex-husband of embezzling her business
A Thai woman is seeking justice for herself and her children after her ex-husband embezzled her business and house in the central province of Pathum Thani. The victim, 38 year old Sarinrat Kasemmatchawang, filed an embezzlement complaint with officers at Suan Phrik Thai Police Station, but the case made no progress. As a result, she turned to news agencies, urging…
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Police bust major online gambling ring in Phitsanulok
Police in the Phitsanulok province detained the owner of an online gambling website and four associates, seizing luxury vehicles and cash. Operating for three years, the network reportedly handled 400 million baht annually through a server in Poipet, Cambodia. Yesterday, March 3, it was reported that under the direction of Police General Thatchai Pitaneelabut, National Police Inspector General, and Police…
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Phuket locals demand action against foreign beggars targeting tourists
Locals in the Patong neighbourhood of Phuket demanded official action against foreign beggars asking for money from tourists, fearing a negative impact on the province’s reputation. Newshawk Phuket shared a video yesterday, March 3, showing one of two foreign women asking a foreign man for money. The page reported that the incident took place in the Patong area of Phuket…
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Thai police crack down on illegal land deals in Chachoengsao
The National Land Policy Committee (NLPC) collaborated with the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) and Chachoengsao Province Natural Resources and Environmental Office to investigate allegations of illegal land acquisition and durian plantation establishment by private investors in Chachoengsao province. They have emphasised that illegal land transactions and occupation will face legal action. Reports emerged about a private company acquiring over 1,400…
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Thai nationals linked to Cambodian online crime face arrest
The Technology Crime Suppression Division in Mueang Thong Thani announced progress regarding the repatriation of Thai nationals from Cambodia linked to online crime syndicates. Police Lieutenant General Trirong Phiwphan, head of the division, yesterday, March 3, indicated that the process is currently under the National Referral Mechanism (NRM), under directives from Police General Kittirat Phanphuet, the national police chief, and…
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Thailand upholds alcohol ban on Buddhist holidays with exceptions
Thailand’s Alcoholic Beverage Board has upheld the ban on alcohol sales during five major Buddhist holy days, with limited exceptions for specific locations. The decision, aimed at balancing religious observance with tourism promotion, is expected to take effect before Visakha Bucha Day on May 11. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Economy and Society, Prasert Chantararuangthong, chaired the National…
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Airport van crashes into traffic pole in Phuket smash
A terrifying crash in Phuket last night left a van driver trapped inside his mangled vehicle after it veered out of control and slammed into a traffic sign and an electric pole. The dramatic accident unfolded on Srisoonthorn Road, near the entrance to Wat Manik, at around 7.20pm yesterday, March 3. Emergency responders rushed to the scene to find the…
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Pregnant Lao woman killed, 3 injured in tragic Pattaya crash
A pregnant Lao woman tragically lost her life yesterday, while her husband and two young daughters suffered serious injuries after a six-wheel truck collided with their motorcycle on a road in Pattaya. A crowd of locals gathered at the tragic and horrifying accident scene on Highway 331 (Chachoengsao-Sattahip) in the Bang Lamung district of Pattaya at around 4pm, yesterday, March…
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Wild elephant attack in Phetchabun province leaves one dead
A wild elephant attacked officials from Phu Luang Wildlife Sanctuary while they were attempting to move the elephants out of agricultural areas in Phetchabun province, resulting in one death and one injury. The incident occurred yesterday, March 3, approximately 4 kilometres from Ban Huay Khoi in Lom Kao district. Chaiwat Koomthongmak, the subdistrict administrative organisation head, explained that the elephant…
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Indian tourists climb Buddha statue for mangoes in Ayutthaya (video)
A recent incident involving Indian tourists climbing a Buddha statue to pick mangoes at Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon in Ayutthaya sparked anger and concern among the Buddhist community. The incident, captured in a TikTok video by user @viewyeahhh, shows a woman, aged between 50 and 60 years old, of Indian nationality, stepping on the base of a plaster Buddha statue…
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Woman jumps onto car bonnet, shocking driver in Pathum Thani (video)
A well-dressed woman unexpectedly jumped onto the bonnet of a car, shocking the driver and causing damage. The incident, which occurred yesterday, March 3, has involved multiple victims, and police are currently tracking the suspect for legal proceedings. The incident was captured on a dashboard camera and shared on TikTok, serving as a warning to solo drivers at night. The…
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Thai drug addict kills 2 year old nephew by slamming him to ground
A Thai drug addict killed his two year old nephew by slamming the boy to the ground outside a house in the southern province of Satun yesterday, March 3. A relative of the child victim called officers from Tha Phae Police Station and rescuers to the scene. The relative revealed that he heard two thuds and rushed to check the…
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Sea turtle lays eggs on Koh Larn, delighting tourists
A rare sighting of a sea turtle laying eggs was reported yesterday at Tien Beach on Koh Larn, Chon Buri province. The unexpected event delighted tourists and observers, as the area, known for its high tourist traffic, had never before recorded sea turtle nesting. Upon learning about the event, Wuttipong Wong-in, director of the Marine and Coastal Resources Conservation Division…
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Thailand video news | Scottish expat dies in Lopburi quad bike crash, Philippines investigates donations from suspected Chinese spies
The latest Good Morning Thailand, hosted by Alex and Jay, covers key stories from Thailand and Southeast Asia. This episode highlights road safety concerns after a Scottish expat’s fatal quad bike crash in Lopburi and a Phuket death possibly linked to drug use. In Pattaya, a British tourist was knocked unconscious by a club bouncer, raising security concerns. Meanwhile, The…
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Thailand battles PM 2.5 with strict anti-burning measures
The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) urged provinces to intensify efforts in monitoring PM 2.5 dust levels and hot spots while strictly enforcing laws against illegal burning. Phasakorn Boonyalak, Director-General of the DDPM and Secretary of the National Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Command, yesterday, March 3, noted that while the overall PM 2.5 levels in the central, eastern,…
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Thai photocopy shop owner denies attempted rape accusation
The owner of a photocopy shop in the Isaan province of Udon Thani denied an attempted rape accusation by a Thai teacher and offered 20,000 baht in compensation to the alleged victim to settle the matter legally. The Thai teacher, Nachanok Intasang, accused the shop owner of attempting to rape her on Saturday, March 1. She visited the shop to…
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Thai plane shame: Pakistanis stranded in Bangkok bust-up (video)
Chaos erupted for Pakistani travellers after they found themselves marooned in Bangkok for two long days after technical issue with a Thai Airways flight. In a maddening turn of events, passengers were left in suspense for six gruelling hours at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok, clinging to the hope of an alternative flight. Those hopes were dashed, however, when Thai…
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Chiang Mai monk faces charges for exam impersonation scandal
Prime Minister’s Office minister Chusak Sirinil has called for criminal charges against a senior monk from Chiang Mai. This monk allegedly employed another monk to impersonate him during a level-five Pali examination in Bangkok. The Chiang Mai ecclesiastical office has since ordered the dismissal of the unnamed senior monk from his role as abbot of a prominent temple in the province.…
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Trump card: Bitcoin booms as Donnie deals in digital dollars
Bitcoin nosedived back into the spotlight with a jaw-dropping surge of over 20% yesterday, accompanied by a thrilling rally in various cryptocurrencies. The electrifying leap followed US President Donald Trump’s bombshell announcement about a proposed strategic US reserve replete with an enticing collection of digital tokens. In a candid post on Truth Social, Trump unveiled his plan for a January…
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Khlong Toei street vendors must vacate by March 16
Street food vendors at Khlong Toei Market 1 have been instructed to vacate by March 16 to enhance the visual appeal and pedestrian pathways along Ratchadaphisek Road in Bangkok’s Khlong Toei subdistrict. Deputy Bangkok Governor Jakkapan Phiewngam is leading the initiative and recently conducted an inspection of the area in preparation for the transition. On Saturday, March 2, Governor Jakkapan…
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Teen violence disrupts peace in Samut Prakan for three nights
A series of violent confrontations involving teenagers wielding knives, sticks, and firearms has disrupted the peace in Samut Prakan province. Residents have been living in fear for three consecutive nights due to the sound of explosions and gunfire, urging Thai police to intervene. Closed-circuit television footage captured approximately 10 teenagers riding four motorcycles, blocking the road in the Thaiban subdistrict…
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Gold jewellery worth 30,000 baht stolen from Pattaya apartment
A night out turned into a nightmare for a young Pattaya resident after her gold jewellery, worth over 30,000 baht, vanished in a brazen apartment break-in. Kawalin told reporters that the theft took place at her South Pattaya residence at around 10.30pm on Friday, February 28. Returning home the next morning, she was stunned to find her valuables missing, prompting…
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Bangkok revamps Bueng Si Kan Lake for flood control
Bangkok is gearing up for a wetter future with a major transformation of Bueng Si Kan Lake in Lak Si district, turning it into a massive flood-control reservoir. The ambitious project is part of the city’s monkey cheek initiative to tackle increasing rainfall and prevent severe flooding in one of its most vulnerable neighbourhoods. Deputy Governor Wissanu Sabsomphon announced that…
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Koh Pha Ngan police accused of ignoring foreign cannabis thieves
A Thai cannabis shop owner accused police officers on Koh Pha Ngan island, in the southern province of Surat Thani, of inaction after they allegedly ignored a cannabis theft committed by two foreigners on February 26. Jariya Kamonrat, the owner of the cannabis shop, Monkey’s Dispensary, posted in a Facebook group for business operators on Koh Pha Ngan to seek…
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