Navy arrests Burmese timber smugglers

RANONG: The Royal Thai Navy stopped a suspicious boat in Thai waters around Koh Chang, Ranong, last Saturday, and found it full of timber, which the boat’s 10-man Burmese crew were apparently trying to smuggle into Thailand. Vice-Admiral Pairoj Theerachai, Commander of the Third Fleet, said that a warship spotted the 20-meter gray boat lurking around the island. The cargo was covered in sheets of plastic and the boat was not flying a national flag. After stopping it, the Thai sailors found on board 200 pieces of timber, each about 10 meters long. “The police will coordinate with the Forestry and Customs officers to identify what kind of wood it is, and how much it’s worth, Adm Pairoj said. The Burmese were handed over to the police in Ranong. They were locked up and charged with attempted smuggling and illegal immigration.