SAMUT SAKHON — Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Suppression Division police raided illegal aluminum dross smelting factories, seizing over 10,000 tons of contraband. They identified it as hazardous to living organisms. The owners are Chinese nationals.
On August 11, police from the Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Suppression Division, armed with a court warrant, searched Phoem Phoon Sap factory in Phrong Madua, Mueang Nakhon Pathom, and Tai Bao Aluminum factory in Bang Kachao, Mueang Samut Sakhon.
This follows an incident on August 10 when Nakhon Pathom Highway Police, during a routine patrol, found a semi-trailer truck fully loaded with big bags. Suspecting industrial waste, they stopped the truck for inspection. The driver had no documentation, leading to suspicions of hazardous materials. The provincial industry office was called to assist.
The truck driver stated he picked up the material from Phoem Phoon Sap factory to deliver to Tai Bao Aluminum factory. Officials then inspected Phoem Phoon Sap, finding aluminum dross in two warehouses. Today, officials from the Department of Industrial Works and provincial industry offices re-inspected both locations.
At Tai Bao, 1,400 bags of aluminum dross weighing about 2,100 tons were found. No one claimed ownership during the search. A woman, identified only as Miss Ying, called to say the factory was closed for holidays and she was out of town but permitted the inspection.
At Phoem Phoon Sap, about 8,258 bags weighing 12,387 tons were found. This factory was operating without a license. Officials collected samples for testing and seized about 14,514 tons of dross as evidence.
Investigations suggest both factories are Chinese-owned, with Thai nationals serving as interpreters and managers. All involved will face charges of unauthorized possession of hazardous materials and operating factories without licenses.
Aluminum dross is harmful to living organisms if dispersed in air and water due to heavy metal content. When in contact with water or air moisture, it produces ammonia gas, causing odors in nearby areas. It can also create toxic dust, potentially ignite, and impact the ecosystem.
Previously, in early of April this year, the Department of Primary Industries and Mines (DPIM) uncovered the source of 13,400 tons of “cadmium waste”, a carcinogenic substance from zinc mining, in warehouses of at least three factories, two in Samut Sakhon province and one in Chonburi Province. They came from the Padaeng Industry mine in Tak Province.
In that case, Thai authorities charged two Chinese men who own the warehouses in Samut Sakhon and Samut Prakarn.
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