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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Bangkok house used to produce illegal e-cigarettes seized
A Chinese entrepreneur rented a luxurious house in the Ram Inthra area of Bangkok to produce illegal e-cigarettes. The operation involved refurbishing discarded e-cigarette heads with new liquid before repackaging them for resale. Yesterday, June 21, Police Major General Pattanasak Bubpasuwan, commander of the Consumer Protection Police Division, directed Police Colonel Krivis Santhavisuk, superintendent of sub-division 1, Police Lieutenant Colonel…
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Endangered Olive Ridley turtle rescued from net at Karon Beach
Marine officials rescued an endangered Olive Ridley sea turtle at Karon Beach after it was found trapped in a discarded fishing net on June 20. Officers from the Sireetarn Marine Endangered Animals Rescue Centre, which operates under the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR), received a report of a turtle washed ashore, alive but entangled in netting. Upon their…
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Thai-Cambodian border crossing closes amid rising tensions
The Chong Sai Taku border crossing in Buri Ram province, located near the Cambodian border, has been closed by Second Army Region commander, Boonsin Padklang. The closure order, issued yesterday, June 21, was shared widely last night. This decision follows a directive from the Royal Thai Army granting the Second Army Region authority over border crossing operations along the Thai-Cambodian…
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Vietnamese nationals arrested in Thailand for illegal online lending scheme
Seven Vietnamese nationals were apprehended in Pathum Thani for running an unauthorised online lending operation, imposing high floating interest rates on Vietnamese clients, reported Thai police yesterday, June 22. Immigration, cybercrime, and tourist police officers conducted a raid on a residence within a housing estate in Lam Luk Ka district. Security personnel had alerted them to suspicious activities by a…
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Thailand braces for heavy rain and flash floods across 46 provinces
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has issued a weather advisory, warning of increased rainfall across Thailand, with some areas, particularly in the east, expected to experience heavy rain. A total of 46 provinces are cautioned about potential flash floods, forest runoff, and landslides, including Bangkok, which is predicted to have a 60% chance of rain today, June 22. The increased…
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Peacock tree crushes pickup in Surat Thani, driver killed
A horrific accident unfolded in the southern province of Surat Thani when a towering peacock tree unexpectedly toppled onto a moving pickup truck, tragically killing the driver and injuring two passengers. The shocking incident occurred yesterday, June 20, around 4pm, on Soi Koteng Road in Village 8, Wat Pradu subdistrict, Mueang district, Surat Thani province. The Thakub Public Service Unit…
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Pattaya beach turns green: Plankton bloom causes panic
Pattaya’s popular Wong Amat Beach recently became the centre of environmental concerns as a sudden plankton bloom turned the waters a disturbing dark green and filled the air with a sulfur-like stench. The phenomenon, which began a few days ago, not only altered the sea’s appearance but also raised serious worries among locals and tourists about its potential impact on…
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Bangkok hotel raid: 200 phones seized in Chinese bust
A police raid at a hotel in the Makkasan area of Bangkok has led to the discovery of a suspicious operation involving Chinese nationals, sparking fears of illegal activities. Acting on a search warrant, investigators from the Metropolitan Police Bureau uncovered a series of alarming findings that point to an underground phone trafficking network. The raid, which took place after…
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Pattaya’s parking crackdown: No car is above the law
Pattaya traffic police launched a no-nonsense crackdown on illegal parking, sending a clear message that no vehicle is above the law—whether it’s a luxury sports car or a humble taxi. The key rule is simple: vehicles must strictly adhere to the odd-even parking schedule on South Pattaya roads. Failure to comply? Prepare for a clamp. The new enforcement initiative aims…
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Triple bomb blasts at Pattani fair injure 7, stalls damaged
The aftermath of the triple bomb explosions at the Pattani Red Cross Fair resulted in injuries to seven people, including vendors and police personnel. The blasts, which occurred at three locations within the fair on Samanchai Sawan Road, Rue Samilae subdistrict, Mueang district, Pattani province, also caused significant damage to over 15 stalls. A reporter visiting the fair observed a…
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Ratsada’s bold plan: Mayor unveils 7 key initiatives for growth
Jirayut Songyos, the newly elected Mayor of Ratsada Subdistrict Municipality, laid out an ambitious policy plan aimed at transforming his subdistrict into a stronger, more prosperous community. Following his certification by the Phuket Provincial Election Commission on June 4, Jirayut spoke to the Ratsada Subdistrict Municipality Council, outlining his commitment to work under the principles of good governance and transparency.…
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Cambodian tourist numbers to Thailand drop 48% due to closures
Cambodian tourist numbers visiting Thailand have significantly decreased by 48% this month due to border closures, impacting a market already experiencing a slowdown since the previous year. Despite this, Thai AirAsia has reported a strong load factor on flights from Bangkok to Cambodia. Thapanee Kiatphaibool, governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), stated that Cambodian arrivals in the first…
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Senate seeks to oust Paetongtarn over leaked call with Cambodia
The Senate Speaker has petitioned the Constitutional Court and the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) to remove Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra from office due to a leaked phone call with Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen. The petitions question if the Thai PM engaged in corruption by violating the Constitution or laws, or if she seriously breached ethical standards. Concurrently, the Constitutional…
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Siblings nabbed with crystal meth in Pattaya drug raid
A major drug bust in Pattaya has resulted in the arrest of two siblings, accused of running a dangerous drug operation in the heart of the city. On Thursday, June 19, Bang Lamung district officials swooped in on a workers’ camp and apartment complex after receiving multiple complaints from locals about widespread drug use and distribution. The operation was led…
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Thai aide accuses Cambodian leader of national security threat
An aide to Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has lodged a police complaint against Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen, alleging threats to Thailand’s national security and causing internal discord. Somkid Chueakong, the deputy secretary-general for political affairs to the prime minister, submitted this complaint yesterday, June 20, to Police Lieutenant General Trairong Phiewphan, head of the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB).…
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Poipet casinos offer promotions to lure back Thai gamblers
Casino operators in Poipet, Cambodia, are implementing enticing travel promotions to attract Thai gamblers back after a noticeable decline in cross-border visits due to increased security measures at the Thai-Cambodian border. A local source noted that smaller gates at the Ban Khlong Luek border checkpoint in Sa Kaeo’s Aranyaprathet district remain operational to facilitate students travelling to school. The official…
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More rain: Thunderstorms and downpours continue to hit Thailand
Thailand’s Meteorological Department (TMD) has issued a weather warning for today, forecasting increased rainfall across Thailand, with heavy showers expected in the north, east, and south. The northeast will experience particularly severe conditions. Residents are advised to remain cautious. The intensified southwest monsoon over the Andaman Sea, Thailand, and the Gulf of Thailand, combined with a low-pressure area over northern…
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Scam alert: Fraudsters pose as SCB agents to freeze your account
Siam Commercial Bank (SCB) is sounding the alarm over a new scam targeting unsuspecting customers, where fraudsters impersonate bank staff and trick victims into freezing their accounts. The bank issued a public warning this week after receiving reports of con artists calling or messaging customers to ask if they had authorised someone else to open an SCB account on their…
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German man found dead in rented house in Nakhon Si Thammarat
A German man was found dead at a rented house in the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat, reportedly due to an ongoing illness. Officers from Thasala Police Station were called to the scene at 6.50am today, June 20, after receiving a report of a foreign man’s death at a house in Tha Kuen sub-district, Tha Sala district. The deceased…
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Phumtham defends PM, dismisses audio scandal backlash
Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai has come out swinging in defence of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, urging calm and diplomacy following the political storm triggered by her leaked audio conversation with former Cambodian leader Hun Sen. Phumtham, who also serves as Defence Minister, downplayed the fallout from the controversial clip, reaffirming the coalition’s support for Paetongtarn and brushing off…
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Tiger comeback: Prey release sparks hope in Thai jungle
In Thailand’s dense, steaming western forests, 20 sambar deer leap into freedom — and straight into the domain of one of Asia’s most elusive predators: the Indochinese tiger. This dramatic release in Khlong Lan National Park, Kamphaeng Phet, Central Thailand, is part of an ambitious government and WWF-backed effort to revive Thailand’s wild tiger population by restoring their natural prey…
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Thai woman calls out after paying 9,500 baht for boat trip at floating market
A Thai woman accused a boat operator at Damnoen Saduak Floating Market in the central province of Ratchaburi of overcharging her and her foreign friends after they paid 9,500 baht for a short boat trip. The woman, Yamolpon Kaeosakun, posted her story today, 20 June, in the popular Facebook group We Are Consumers (พวกเราคือผู้บริโภค). She shared a photograph of the…
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Watch your words: Thai air force warns troops on recordings
Heads up, airmen — Big Brother might be listening. The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) has issued a stark warning to its personnel: think twice before you speak, because your conversations could be recorded. In a now-deleted post made on June 19 via the official RTAF News Facebook page, Air Chief Marshal Praphat Sonjaidee, the air force’s spokesperson, reminded service…
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Pattaya motorbike thug attacks Bolt rider in road rage meltdown
An early morning altercation at a busy Pattaya intersection has ignited public outrage after a motorcycle taxi driver was caught on camera assaulting a Bolt passenger, and now police are under pressure to act. The incident took place at around 6.45am yesterday, June 19, at the intersection of Pattaya South Road and Thanon Sai Sam, near Soi Pattaya South 18…
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New driving rules: Foreigners must take test in Thailand
No more shortcuts — foreigners in Thailand will soon be required to pass a written test to get a Thai driver’s licence, even if they hold a valid international permit. The Department of Land Transport (DLT) is tightening its rules with a new draft regulation that scraps the use of international driving permits (IDPs) as acceptable proof for obtaining a…
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Thai activist calls mass protest to ‘sink the boat’ over PM scandal
Veteran activist Jatuporn Prompan has declared political war, calling for a mass protest at Bangkok’s Victory Monument on June 28. His mission? To oust Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, whom he accuses of betraying the nation. At a fiery press conference held at the Rattanakosin Hotel on Ratchadamnoen Road, Bangkok, at 10am today, June 20, more than 40 prominent figures from…
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Dead man with hands cuffed and legs bound found in Nakhon Si Thammarat
The discovery of a dead man with his hands cuffed and legs bound in a palm plantation in the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat yesterday, June 19, reminded locals in the area of a similar case that occurred two years prior. Residents of the Tha Rue sub-district in Mueang district detected a foul odour in the area and gathered…
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iCloud loan sharks busted in Bangkok raid over 30% interest scam (video)
The Economic Crime Suppression Division (ECD) conducted a raid on an illegal loan company in Bangkok and Samut Prakan. The company allegedly accepted iCloud accounts as collateral and locked devices if payments were missed. It had over 5,000 clients and charged interest rates of 30% per month. The operation was led by Police Major General Thasanphumi Charuprachya, commander of the…
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Death penalty call: Activists accuse PM over leaked tape
Two fiery political activists have filed explosive charges against Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, claiming she committed acts so severe they could carry the death penalty. The complaint was lodged on Thursday at Mueang Khon Kaen Police Station by anti-corruption campaigners Tul Prasertsilp and Chaichana Tasaniyom. The duo accused the prime minister of breaching multiple sections of Thailand’s Criminal Code over…
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2 Thai men attack drug rehab clinic worker and steal prescription medicine
Two Thai men attacked a worker at a drug rehabilitation clinic in Pathum Thani on Wednesday, June 18, after an employee refused to sell them prescription medication, which they later stole. The Jmoi V+ Facebook page reported yesterday, June 19, that the pair physically assaulted a 63 year old employee at the Princess Mother National Institute for Drug Abuse Treatment…
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