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 5 ways retirees in Thailand lose money (and how to stop it)
Retiring in Thailand can be affordable and enjoyable, but many retirees lose money due to common mistakes. High living costs, scams, and unexpected expenses can quickly drain savings. There are five ways that retirees in Thailand can lose money and...
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Teacher’s aide arrested for abducting boy in Phetchaburi
A 19 year old female teacher’s aide has been apprehended for allegedly abducting a 10 year old boy in Phetchaburi province. Owen’s relatives reported him missing after he left home to dispose of rubbish and failed to return. The incident took place yesterday, January 25, when Owen, wearing a white and yellow sports shirt with the number 7, disappeared from…
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Man arrested for explosive attack on minister’s family home
A 27 year old man, known as New, was arrested within 24 hours for throwing explosives at the home of the assistant minister of culture’s parents. The incident, which occurred on January 24, involved a blue motorcycle and was linked to narcotics use. Police Major General Napasin Poolsawat, Deputy Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, along with Police Major General…
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Thai police dismantle Fiwfans human trafficking network, rescue two girls
The National Police Chief, Police General Thatchai Pitanilabut, announced a significant breakthrough on January 24, at 2.30pm, with the dismantling of Fiwfans, an online platform allegedly involved in human trafficking. In this operation, Thai police rescued two girls, 16 and 17 years old, and uncovered a suspected criminal network reportedly active for more than four years, with a turnover surpassing…
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Thailand halts electricity supply to Myanmar over unpaid bills
The Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) has stated that the sale of electricity to Myanmar adheres to established Thai-Myanmar protocols. The official is committed to stopping electricity distribution to Myanmar if any breach of contract is identified. Prasit Junprasit, the deputy governor of the PEA, confirmed that the authority supplies electricity to five areas in Myanmar. These include Payathonzu Town in…
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Rayong wildfire sparks dust pollution, impacting health and economy
A persistent wildfire at Khao Chom Hae in Rayong has continued for over five days, raising concerns about increasing dust pollution in the eastern Thai province and its surroundings. The fire has engulfed more than 20,000 rai (7,900 acres) across the districts of Nikhom Phatthana, Ban Chang, and Mueang, with approximately 30% of the forest already consumed. Firefighting efforts are…
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Thailand braces for cold snap, heavy rain, and foggy mornings
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has forecasted that tomorrow will bring cold weather, dense fog, and increased rainfall in some areas. A high-pressure system or weak cold air mass is covering upper Thailand and the South China Sea, leading to foggy mornings and dense fog in several areas. Northern and northeastern Thailand will experience cold to very cold weather, while…
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Thai woman arrested over online job scam in Pattani
A 22 year old Thai woman was arrested in Pattani province for her involvement in an online job scam yesterday, January 24. She claimed she was forced to open bank accounts by a Chinese criminal gang and detained in a casino. Police Major General Witthaya Sribunsroek, acting provincial police chief, ordered Police Colonel Phongpanot Chuakaew and Police Captain Kiattisak Boonthong…
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Police raid online football gambling site near Isaan school
Police raided an online football gambling site located just 500 metres from a school in Ubon Ratchathani, catering to children and youths with a monthly turnover of 1 million baht. The operation, conducted yesterday, January 24, involved high-ranking officers including Police Lieutenant General Trairong Phiwphann and Police Major General Wiwat Kamchamnarn. Acting on a tip-off, officers from Subdivision 2 of…
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Illegal vitamin C and coffee found in Samut Prakan warehouse
Police yesterday uncovered a warehouse containing over 1 million sachets of Chinese-origin vitamin C and coffee. These products were found with fake Food and Drug Administration (FDA) numbers, intended for online sale. The raid was led by Police Colonel Thasnapoom Jarupraty and his team, with cooperation from Deputy Director Sasavee Narakorn of the Food Bureau, at a storage facility in…
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Thai FDA approves kratom use for health and economic benefits
The Thai Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the use of kratom plant products for economic and health benefits. The regulations now permit mitragynine, an active compound in kratom leaves, to be used up to 3 milligrammes (mg) per day, with appropriate warnings on product labels. Dr Witit Srisa-atchachakul, the Deputy Secretary-General of the FDA, announced that the FDA,…
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62 students suffer food poisoning at Koh Samui school camp
Sixty-two students from Theeparatpittaya School on Koh Samui experienced food poisoning symptoms, prompting urgent medical attention. The incident occurred yesterday, January 24, when students attending a scout camp began suffering from severe abdominal pain after consuming boxed meals. The Narenthorn Ao Thai Centre at Koh Samui Hospital was notified of the situation and quickly coordinated with the Koh Samui district public…
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Pattaya police arrest transgender duo for tourist thefts
Pattaya police have detained two transgender individuals in connection with thefts targeting tourists from India and Turkey. Police Colonel Navin Theerawit, Superintendent of Pattaya Police Station, announced the arrests at a press conference at 6pm on Thursday, January 23. The suspects were reportedly involved in two recent theft incidents. The first suspect, 42 year old Kachaphaphak, also known as Sara,…
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6 Britons arrested in Phuket with cannabis and laughing gas
In Phuket, six British nationals were detained following a police raid on a house in Mueang district where they were found with 6 kilogrammes of cannabis buds and 39 small tanks of nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas. The raid, conducted on Thursday, January 23, discovered the group inside the property. Police confirmed the results of the operation yesterday.…
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Thailand to cut electricity to Myanmar to stop scam operations
The Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) has expressed its readiness to collaborate with security agencies to cease electricity supply from Thailand to Myanmar border towns, aiming to disrupt scam operations in the neighbouring country. PEA deputy governor Prasit Junprasit stated yesterday that halting electricity supplies to Myanmar necessitates cooperation between Thai and Myanmar security agencies. He assured that any such action…
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Mayor vows to keep Pattaya’s Jomtien safe from drugs
Pattaya officials are turning up the heat on Jomtien’s bustling tourist hub as fears of drug activity loom. Mayor Poramet Ngampichet has ordered relentless inspections of Jomtien Soi 2 to 3 to prevent it from spiralling into a crime hotspot. Determined to safeguard this family-friendly destination, the mayor instructed local officials to patrol the streets regularly and partner with community…
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Transport ministry: Bangkok Port to host entertainment complex
The Transport Ministry has approved a proposal for Bangkok Port to host an integrated entertainment complex. Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit referenced an instruction from his deputy, Manaporn Charoensri, to establish a committee to assess the feasibility of developing such complexes at locations like ports. Several potential sites are under consideration. Suriya highlighted the Khlong Toei area of Bangkok Port as a…
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Russian tourist dies in Phuket motorcycle accident
A Russian tourist lost his life when his motorcycle crashed into a roadside barrier in Srisoonthorn, Phuket, during the early hours of yesterday, January 24. Police responded to the incident on Srisoonthorn Road, located behind the Thai Watsadu store in Village 3, Srisoonthorn, around 12.10am. Thalang Police reported that the 35 year old man was riding a motorcycle registered in…
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Chilly weather: Heavy rainfall warnings with temperature drop
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has issued its second warning regarding a strong new cold air mass affecting Thailand, causing temperatures to drop by 5 degrees Celsius (°C) and heavy rainfall. The warning, released at 5pm yesterday, January 24, states that from January 26 to 28, a high-pressure system or cold air mass from China will cover northern Thailand and…
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Thai mother reunites with missing son after 5-year search
A Thai mother was reunited with her son yesterday, January 23, after he had been missing for five years, thanks to the efforts of the non-profit organisation, the Mirror Foundation. The Mirror Foundation released a missing person poster of the 13 year old Thai boy, Turnpong “Aut” Dokbuaban, on December 24, 2019. He disappeared from Sub Jarun Villa in Soi…
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Delivery rider snared by low-hanging cable in Pattaya horror
A Pattaya delivery rider suffered painful injuries after being caught by a low-hanging communication cable while riding through Soi Kho Phai, South Pattaya, yesterday, January 23. The victim, 44 year old Koson Kongsila, has urged local officials to take action, warning that similar hazards could put others at risk. Recounting the shocking incident, Koson explained he was riding his motorcycle…
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Bangkok ranks 4th worst for air quality as haze chokes city
Bangkok’s air quality took a nosedive today, earning it the grim title of the fourth worst city in the world for air pollution, according to Swiss-based monitoring platform IQAir. The capital’s air quality index (AQI) hit a hazardous 188 as of 9.40am, with toxic PM2.5 levels far exceeding safe thresholds. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) declared 48 out of 50…
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Pattaya gears up for influx of 5,400 US Navy troops
Pattaya is set to host 5,400 US Navy personnel from January 27 to 31 as they take a break from military training exercises, prompting Chon Buri police to roll out comprehensive safety and traffic measures. The troops will arrive on four US Navy ships, docking in areas managed by Sattahip and Laem Chabang police stations. Police Lieutenant General Yingyos Thepchamnong,…
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Rock singer offers compensation after fatal Bangkok van crash
Rock singer Manaswin Nuntasane, also known as Tik Shiro, and his family have expressed their willingness to compensate the family of two people who died in a van accident in Bangkok on October 10 last year. They offer to pay 4 to 5 million baht, although the victims’ family is seeking 24 million baht. Tik Shiro, aged 63, addressed the…
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7 Thai suspects arrested for abduction and robbery in Chiang Mai
Yesterday, January 23, police arrested seven suspects, aged between 16 and 20 years old, for abducting a 25 year old woman from a condominium in the northern province of Chiang Mai, brutally assaulting her, and stealing her cash and mobile phone. The 25 year old victim, Worrada, filed a complaint against seven suspects at Mae Ping Police Station. The incident occurred…
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Thai woman arrested for stealing 120,000 baht from Russian man in Pattaya
Police arrested a Thai woman for stealing 120,000 baht in cash and a mobile phone from a Russian victim in Pattaya on January 8. She confessed to spending most of the money on a holiday trip with her family. The 37 year old Russian man, Xavier, filed a complaint with officers at Bang Lamung Police Station on January 8, reporting that his…
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Raging inferno in Naklua destroys 5 homes, injures 1
A large fire erupted in Naklua, Pattaya, destroying five homes and injuring one individual. Bang Lamung police received a report about a severe fire in a residential area of Naklua at 6pm on Wednesday, January 22. Officers promptly coordinated with Pattaya City and nearby municipal fire departments to address the situation. The blaze occurred in a row of two-storey houses…
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Chinese duo nabbed in Phuket café lion cub photo scam
Two Chinese nationals were arrested in Phuket after allegedly using lion cubs to lure tourists to The Glass House Cafe and Space, charging them for photo sessions with the animals. The café, located on Ratsada-Anusorn Road in Ratsada, has a history of similar wildlife abuse scandals, including last year’s notorious incident involving a cub named Nong Kiwi. Armed with a…
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Thai transwoman busted at Nonthaburi hotel for explicit content
A Thai transgender influencer with nearly 30,000 followers on social media has been arrested for operating a secret group distributing explicit content. The 22 year old suspect reportedly confessed to running the scheme for two years, raking in tens of thousands of baht per month. Police Lieutenant General Trirong Phiwpaen, Commander of the Technology Crime Suppression Division (TCSD), revealed details…
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Lawyer criticised for opposing equal marriage in Thailand
Lawyer Thammarat Sarapanya has faced a wave of criticism following his comments on equal marriage, which he described as a violation of the universe’s laws. The remarks came after the new Marriage Equality Act, amending the Civil and Commercial Code, took effect yesterday, January 23. Thammarat expressed his views through his Facebook page “The Lawyer of Legality,” stating, “Equal marriage…
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Pattaya police raid Chinese gang boss’s luxury home
Pattaya police raided the lavish home of an alleged Chinese gang leader yesterday, January 23, as part of an ongoing investigation into the brutal assault of a Chinese businessman. The attack, which occurred on September 14 last year, left the victim seriously injured after he refused to sell his pub shares to the gang. The raid, conducted by over 10…
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