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Thailand news, politics, business, crime, lifestyle, and tourism—stay updated with breaking news and in-depth analysis from Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, and beyond.
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Major narcotics sting reveals 27 drug networks
A crackdown on 27 drug-dealing networks across Thailand has delivered 734 arrests and the confiscation of a huge amount of illicit drugs. This, according to the Royal Thai Police’s Narcotics Control Coordinating Center. The stings all took place between September 2 – 11. The suspects included 15 alleged narcotics producers, 52 alleged drugs distributors and 256 persons accused of having…
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Show and tell – Governor in BKK to promote Phuket Street Food
Phuket’s Governor attended a press conference regarding the Phuket Street Food Festival 2017 in Central World Mall, Bangkok. The events will take place during the green season on September 16 and 17 at the 72nd Anniversary Commemoration of Queen Sirikit Public Park in Phuket Town. Phuket is one of 18 cities across the globe that are given the special title…
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Narcotics police nab Bangkok drug kingpin
Narcotics suppression police have raided the Bangkok house of a suspected drug boss, who is a registered taxi motorcycle driver, seized two cars, 2 million Baht and a bank account book with transactions totalling some 60 million Baht. Jirat Pensophon was arrested early Tuesday morning at a house in the Casa Ville Rajapruek housing estate on Rajapruek Road in Nonthaburi’s…
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17 year old using BB gun to rob locals and tourists
Last night (September 11), Phuket police arrested a 17 year old from Had Yai, Songkhla, in Soi Hongyok-Utit, Phuket Town. He’d already committed 4 or 5 robberies and claimed that he robbed people after taking drugs. At the scene police found a black BB gun, a red plate, green and grey Yamaha motorcycle, a helmet, two mobile phones, a shoulder…
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27 gamblers arrested with 8,000 Baht cash
Early this morning (September 12), military and police teams searched a 2-storey house in Soi Sansuk 1 in Phuket Town and arrested 27 gamblers, including 11 men and 16 women. The place was used as a gambling house. 70 Wooden chips, used as money, cards and a gambling table were also found at the scene with 8,810 Baht in cash.…
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Waterspout spotted near Krabi’s Ao Nang
A waterspout was spotted near Ao Nang beach, in Krabi yesterday (September 11). The impressive, yet relatively harmless mini-tornado, lasted for about 20 minutes before it disappeared. The 15 second video of the waterspout was shared by Warakorn Chamnanpoom. He says that it happened about 5 kilometers offshore. It is more likely to see such event during the rainy season…
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AusCham brings together local marine and hotel industries
The Australia-Thailand Chamber of Business (AustCham) held a seminar on Phuket’s Marine & Hospitality Industry Outlook at the Phuket Boat Lagoon last Friday, September 8, 2017. The seminar hosted over 60 guests and was moderated by Harry Usher from Lady Pie. The panelists were Michael Owen from Beacon Sky Hospitality, Wicky Sundram from Phuket Boat Lagoon, Scott Bradley from Precision…
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Ironman 70.3 Thailand returns to Phuket
Triathletes from around the world are heading to Phuket for a weekend of swim-bike-run where 1,500 competitors from more than 60 countries are expected to compete in the Foremost IRONMAN 70.3 Thailand on November 26, and up to 300 youngsters in the Foremost IRONKIDS Thailand. Built on the belief that Anything is Possible®, IRONMAN – the original triathlon brand –…
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200 kilograms of Kratom seized in Hat Yai
Police arrested a 32 year old drug suspect and seized a stash of 200 kilograms of fresh kratom leaves and 2,000 bottles of cough syrup in Songkhla’s Hat Yai district today (September 11). Following a tip-off, Hat Yai’s deputy superintendent Pol Lt Colonel Ranon Surawit led a raid on a rented house in Tambon Kuan Lang and seized 300,000 Baht…
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Countdown to the big clean-up
The countdown is on for this Saturday’s mega beach clean-up around the island of Phuket. The activities kick off at 8am at different venues around the island. The Phuket Hotels Association have been active in investing in the island’s future. They have developed long-term environmental and educational programs to provide the foundation for ongoing development and sustainable success. The PHA…
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Students protest at Srinagarindra the Princess Mother School
About 500 students alongside some teachers and parents of Srinagarindra the Princess Mother School in Phuket, gathered this morning (September 11) to call for the School Director to resign following several criticisms about his work. The signs written by students were presented at the protest showing many issues such as “Megalomaniac, get out!”, “Go use your power somewhere else. We…
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THAIGER TODAY Monday, September 11
Myanmar Government rejects cease-fire | Bomb explodes in Petchabun killing one | Two suspects in Phang Nga rape case test positive for drugs | Founder of Asian Elephant Foundation resigns | ‘ET’ dies at 58 | Thai tourism expects 3 trillion Baht revenue in 2018.
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Seven turned themselves in, five detained – Phang Nga Rape Case.
Seven men have now turned themselves into police in Phang Nga to deny any wrongdoing in the alleged gang rapes of a 15 year old schoolgirl over a period of six months on 2016. Five were immediately detained because the Phang Nga Provincial Court had approved arrest warrants for them. Previously, three other suspects have been arrested. Their trials will…
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Cleaning up Patong. 12 arrested for drug possession in Phuket
12 drug dealers have been arrested and charged with possession of 8,000 amphetamine pills , 500 grams of meth amphetamine and 40 kilograms of Kratom leaves. Nine of the them were initially arrested on September 6 by Patong police including 5 men and 4 women who were found in possession of meth amphetamine and Kratom leaves. Three of the men…
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‘Dowry Digger’ denies marrying 13 men. She says it was only 7.
The 32 year old ‘dowry digger’ from Loei (north-eastern Thailand) has been arrested for allegedly duping at least 13 men into marrying her and then fleeing with their dowries and wedding gifts. Jariyaporn Buayai is denying the accusations. She also claims to have only wed seven men – each of whom she had been dating for a period of time…
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Yingluck spotted near Cambodian border
The investigation into the flight of former PM Yingluck Shinawatra has narrowed down to the border province of Sa Kaew after authorities say she was spotted there days before her verdict hearing where she was a dramatic ‘no show’. Sa Kaew is 237 kilometres east of Bangkok and near the border of Cambodia. According to The Nation, the…
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SEA Games silence is deafening
ON DECK with Duncan Worthington Sailing at the 2017 SEA Games in Malaysia has just wrapped up. What? I hear you ask. You didn’t know there was any sailing at the SEA Games? You didn’t see any daily results? You’re not the only one. I’ve spent the last week or so looking for results. Going to the event website which…
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Two students allege being hit by school director
Baan Bomuang School Director, Opat Kongpakdee, is to be investigated and possibly sacked from the school after harming 2 students. Anusorn Samart and Rittidech Mas-Osot, two students from grade 5, were accompanied by their parents and village chief, Sittichai Bomuang, to Krabi Damrongtham Center to complain about the case. The students were found with bruises on their heads which they…
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THAIGER TODAY Friday, September 8
Police calling for ‘sympathy’ in Phang Nga rape case | Bang Wad dam ‘running on empty’ | Checkpoint gets a make-over | Two colleges under threat of closure | Next general election in Nov/Dec 2018 | Thailand’s road toll continues to rise.
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Baby green turtle born at Koh Racha
A green turtle was born at 2 am this morning (September 8) after the 20 year old mother laid 87 eggs on Koh Racha on August 15. The eggs were kept in the safe place by villagers as this is the first group of turtle found around Racha Island in the past 14 years. Initially, the mother laid the eggs…
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Phang Nga rape victim and her mother meet psychologist
The victim and her mother from Baan Koh Raed, Phang Nga, have been brought by officers from the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security to see a psychologist after facing severe depression from case and the pressure from their neighbours. They also claim they have been facing ongoing harassment from other villagers. The 34 year old mother and 15…
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Is Phuket’s Bang Wad dam running dry?
Last year’s dry season, the traditional December to April period when there is little rain in Phuket, was very wet. So after four months of this year’s wet season you’d think the dams would be getting close to full. Right? The Bang Wad dam in Kathu, one of the island’s main fresh water sources, is at a low point that…
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Bangkok’s polite bank robber
by The Nation “I’m sorry, I have financial problems,” That’s what a lone gunman told a teller of a Thanachart Bank on Rama III Road on Thursday before escaping with 270,000 Bt in cash. The man, aged about 30, spent about one minute robbing the Bang Khlo Laem branch at about 8.52am. A witness told police that the man wore…
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Thachatchai checkpoint to be renovated – better security
Phuket authorities, led by the Governor, are planning on the renovation of Thachatchai checkpoint, the northern gateway of Phuket. Yesterday (August 6), the meeting gathered many local departments to discuss on how to make the gateway of Phuket more modern in terms of equipments, building and manpower and increase the security standards. “Phuket is the centre of passenger arrivals by…
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Urban push is on in Phuket’s Cherngtalay area
Phuket tourism is no longer just about the beach and the urban push is ‘game on’. One leading example is Cherngtalay which is near to the destination resort Laguna Phuket and Bangtao Beach. Upcoming in the fourth quarter of this year will be the X2 Vibe Bangtao that is set to usher in a rush of new ‘off beach’ properties. Within…
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Rohingya crisis emerging as thousands flee across Bangladesh border
Cox’s Bazaar, Bangladesh by The Daily Star, Asia News Network and The Nation Tens of thousands of Rohingyas wait for food; govt, aid agencies yet to start adequate relief distribution Shafiqa Begum was among the crowd chasing a minivan distributing food packets among starving Rohingyas near Tyingkhali Rohingya camp. Holding her eight-day-old daughter tightly to her chest, she tried her best…
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A girl denies having been raped – Phang Nga Rape Case
Another girl who was mentioned by the 14 year old from Baan Koh Raed village is denying ever being raped while villagers maintain they are very stressed about the case. Drugs utensils were found in the shack described as the rape scene in front of the beach. The 17 year old girl has denied being involved in the rape case…
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Dolphin found on Bang Tao beach
Bang Tao beach lifeguards found the body of a 1.2-meter long dolphin on the beach today (September 6). Phuket Marine Biological Center took the body from the beach and kept it frozen while waiting for an autopsy to determine the cause of death. The dolphin is 1.2-meter long with a width of about 20 cm and weighs 20 kilograms. It…
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1 Bride and 13 Grooms – Loei woman charged
Story from The Nation Police want to find out if the parents of Jariyaporn Buayai conspired in her alleged duping of at least 13 men into marriage. Jariyaporn, 32, from Loei’s Wang Saphung district, is accused of tricking the men into marrying her and then fleeing with their dowries and wedding gifts. She allegedly married four men in one month,…
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Hawksbill Sea Turtles saved from trawler nets
The crew from the Nikorn Marine 824 speed boat have saved two Hawksbill Sea Turtles near Racha Island yesterday (September 5). They were both injured from trawler nets. The turtles were found on the way from Racha Island back to Chalong Pier. After a veterinarian’s inspection, the turtles were found to be injured from the netting wrapped around their flippers.…
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