ASEAN Young Adults Arrested for Selling Drugs and Vape Pods in Bangkok

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17 May 2024, 15:34

asean drugs1 — Mr. Jayden, a 23-year-old Singaporean and Ms. Ketdao, a 24-year-old Thai were found with evidence of drugs and e-cigarette pods inside a condominium in the Rama 9 area on May 15, 2024.

BANGKOK – Officers from the 191 Patrol Unit announced on Friday the arrest of four individuals from ASEAN neighboring countries and a Thai national on charges of selling e-cigarettes and drugs in Bangkok’s business district. All suspects were charged at the Makkasan Police Station.

The arrested individuals include Mr. Jayden, a 23-year-old Singaporean, Ms. Ketdao, a 24-year-old Thai, Miss Maria, a 25-year-old Filipino, and Mr. Joel, a 28-year-old Singaporean. The arrests took place at a condominium near Thong Lor area, and continued to another condo in Rama 9, Bangkapi Subdistrict, Huai Khwang District, Bangkok, at 5:00 PM on May 15.

Authorities seized substantial evidence, including 63 drug-laced e-cigarette pods (methamphetamine), 37 drug-laced e-cigarette pods (heroin), 17 e-cigarette devices, and 26 bubble wrap packages.

asean drugs3 — Mr. Jayden, a 23-year-old Singaporean, admitted that he made money from selling drugs and Pot-K.

Additionally, they confiscated 6 packets of Happy Water, 54 ecstasy pills, 3 bags of MDMA powder weighing approximately 1.89 grams, 2 bags of MDMA capsules containing 8 pills, 10 bags of white crystalline ketamine weighing approximately 10.81 grams, 1 bag of ice weighing approximately 1.04 grams, and 170 Five Five pills.

They also seized 3 mobile phones, 10 bank account books, 2 electronic cash cards, and 376,000 baht in cash.

The investigation revealed that e-cigarette pods laced with methamphetamine, commonly known among tourists as “Pot-K”,” were being sold and had gained popularity among young people. These pods were sold via the Line app for 4,000 baht per pod, with a discount when buying two pods for 7,000 baht. When customers placed an order, the sellers delivered the product to the specified address via GrabBike.

Upon discovering that the dealers were storing “Pot-K” at a condo near entertainment hubs in the Thong Lor area, authorities arranged a sting operation. An undercover agent ordered a Pot-K pod for 3,500 baht, paid via bank transfer, and upon successful payment, the pod was delivered, leading to the arrest of the four suspects.

asean drugs2 — Authorities arrested four susupects and seized substantial evidence at the condominium in the Rama 9 area on May 15, 2024.

Mr. Jayden and Ms. Ketdao face multiple charges:

Possession of a schedule 1 narcotic (methamphetamine) for sale,
Unlawful possession of a schedule 1 narcotic (methamphetamine),
Possession of a Schedule 1 narcotic (ecstasy, happy water or methamphetamine) for sale,
Possession of a category 1 narcotic (ice, ecstasy or MDMA) for sale,
Possession of a category 2 psychotropic substance (ketamine, Five Five) for sale,
Violation of the orders of the consumer protection authority by selling prohibited products (e-cigarettes and corresponding liquids).

Ms. Maria is charged with possession of a Schedule 1 narcotic (ecstasy, “Happy Water,” or methamphetamine) for sale and unlawful possession of a Category 1 narcotic (heroin). Mr. Joel is charged with possession of a Schedule 1 narcotic (ecstasy, “Happy Water,” or methamphetamine) for sale.

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Two More Thai Hostages Have Died in Gaza, PM Offers Condolences to Their Families

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Khaosod English

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17 May 2024, 11:34

Israel Palestinians — Palestinians walk through the debris after an Israeli air and ground offensive in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Wednesday, May 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Saher Alghorra)

BANGKOK – With two more deaths, 41 Thai workers have died in Gaza, where the war between Hamas and Israel began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas attacked southern Israel, killing around 1,200 people and taking about 250 hostages.

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin posted on X while on duty in Rome at 1.23 a.m .Friday, Bangkok time, that he’s deeply saddened to learn that two more Thai migrant workers who were among the eight remaining Thai hostages held by Hamas have died.

“I am deeply saddened to learn that the two Thai hostages in Gaza, namely Mr. Sonthaya Oakkharasri and Mr. Sudthisak Rinthalak are now confirmed deceased. I offer my deepest condolences to both their families. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and our Embassy in Tel Aviv will provide all necessary assistance required.

7bodies from Israel — The bodies of seven Thai workers killed in Israel by Hamas arrived at Suvarnabhumi Airport on October 26 via El Al Airlines flight LY083. This is the second group of remains. Israeli Ambassador to Thailand Ms Orna Sagiv was present to pay respect at the airport.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also issued a statement on May 17, 2024 that it has been informed by the Royal Thai Embassy in Tel Aviv that, upon consideration of the available evidence, the Committee for Assessing the Conditions of the Hostages of the Israeli Government has concluded that two Thai nationals listed as hostages in Gaza, from the remaining eight yet to be released, namely Mr. Sonthaya Oakkharasri and Mr. Sudthisak Rinthalak, are deceased, since October 2023.

The Royal Thai Government expresses its profound condolences to their families, which have already been contacted by the Royal Thai Embassy in Tel Aviv, while the agencies involved will render all necessary assistance to the families.

The Royal Thai Government reiterates its strong call for the immediate release of all remaining hostages, including the six remaining Thai nationals in Gaza, so that they may return home safely, and call for all sides to exercise their utmost efforts in negotiations leading to an urgent solution to the current humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

AP23314737049588 — The figure of a hand is marked with blood on the wall of a bomb shelter located in the Thai workers’ housing section of Kibbutz Nir Oz, Israel, near the Gaza Strip, Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Just earlier on Monday, Israeli Ambassador to Thailand Orna Sagiv told Khaosod English there was no progress on the remaining Thai hostages. Israel says militants still hold around 100 hostages and the remains of more than 30 others.

According to the Associated Press report on May 17, 2024, Israel’s defense minister said the military would send more troops into Rafah, a city along Gaza’s southern border with Egypt, as fighting also rages in northern Gaza, where Hamas has regrouped.

South Africa is seeking emergency measures at the U.N.’s top court to halt Israel’s escalating offensive in Rafah, calling the incursion “the last step in the destruction of Gaza.” Israel has portrayed Rafah as the last Hamas stronghold, brushing off warnings from the United States and other allies that any major operation there would be catastrophic for civilians.

AP24137319555256 — Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike in the Gaza Strip, as seen from southern Israel, Thursday, May 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

No food has entered the two main border crossings in southern Gaza for more than a week. Some 1.1 million Palestinians are on the brink of starvation, according to the U.N.

Around 600,000 Palestinians have been driven out of Rafah since the beginning of last week, the U.N. said. Some 80% of Gaza’s population of 2.3 million Palestinians have fled their homes since the start of the war, with many relocating multiple times.

Seven months of war have killed more than 35,000 people in Gaza, most of them women and children, according to local health officials.

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HRW Calls on Thai Government to Launch an Investigation Into “Swap Mart” Dissidents

By

Associated Press

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17 May 2024, 00:57

Thailand Transnational Repression — FILE - Thai rescuers cover a body on the shore of the Mekong River in Nakhon Phanom province northeast of Bangkok, Thailand, Thursday Dec. 27, 2018. DNA tests show that two bodies found washed up on the shore of Thailand's Mekong River are the corpses of anti-government activists, police said Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2019, in what are feared to be political killings. (AP Photo, File)

BANGKOK (AP) — In the new Human Rights Watch report, titled “We Thought We Were Safe,” which analyzed 25 cases that took place in Thailand between 2014 and 2023, the organization said Thai authorities repeatedly violated international law by expelling the dissidents, many of whom were registered with the United Nations as refugees and were awaiting resettlement in third countries.

Many of the cases involved the forcible repatriation of Cambodians, with the suspected involvement of Cambodian security personnel. But the group also listed cases where dissidents from Vietnam, Laos and China were “tracked down and abducted,” or “forcibly disappeared or killed.”

The report said that in return for tracking down and returning the dissidents, the Thai government received cooperation from Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam to spy on Thai dissidents who had fled their own homeland to escape political repression.

Human Rights Watch called this a quid-pro-quo form of transnational repression “in which foreign dissidents are effectively traded for critics of the Thai government living abroad.”

The group said such arrangements, informally known as “swap mart,” became increasingly frequent after the Thai army staged a coup in 2014 ousting an elected government. Military and military-backed rule lasted 10 years, until an elected civilian government led by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin took office last year.

“The Srettha administration should launch an investigation into these allegations of harassment, surveillance and forced returns of asylum seekers and refugees in Thailand. It should investigate the disappearance of Thai anti-junta activists in other Southeast Asian countries,” Elaine Pearson, director of Human Rights Watch’s Asia Division, told The Associated Press.

”I think there is an opportunity to end this practice and for the Srettha administration to show it is different from the previous military-led government,” she added.

AP24137411673795 — FILE – An activist holds a photo of Thai dissident Wanchalearm Satsaksit during a rally in front of Cambodian Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand, Monday, June 8, 2020. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit), File)

She noted that the Thai government is currently seeking a seat on the U.N. Human Rights Council “and that comes with responsibilities to protect human rights.”

The report cited nine cases of Thai activists in Laos and Cambodia who were disappeared or killed in mysterious circumstances. It said most of the reported cases have not been resolved or seen anyone prosecuted.

The mutilated bodies of two missing activists were found in late 2018 floating in the Mekong River. In 2020, a young Thai activist, Wanchalearm Satsaksit, was snatched off the street in the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh and never heard from again.

Thai authorities have repeatedly denied any connection with such events.

Dr. Francesca Lessa, an associate professor in International Relations at University College London, said there were some parallels with the way autocratic leaders in Latin America made agreements to work together to eliminate political opponents on each other’s soil in the late 1970s to 1980s.

“Whether they follow right or left ideologies, these autocratic governments consider opposition and dissent as constituting a threat to their survival in power and, thus, to be eliminated, whatever the means required,” Lessa told the AP.

AP24137405754362 — FILE – Thai rescuers cover a body on the shore of the Mekong River in Nakhon Phanom province northeast of Bangkok, Thailand, Thursday Dec. 27, 2018. (AP Photo, File)

Asked about the Human Rights Watch report, Thai Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nikorndej Balankura said that Thailand is committed to respecting and upholding humanitarian principles, including not forcing asylum-seekers and refugees to return to their home countries where they might face persecution or where their lives or freedom might be endangered.

Separately, the Thai Foreign Ministry announced Thursday that the country has concluded the ratification process for the International Convention for the Protection of all Persons from Enforced Disappearance, which will come into effect on June 13. Thailand has had its own law on the Prevention and Suppression of Torture and Enforced Disappearance since 2003, said the statement.

The ministry said that ratification means that Thailand will now be party to eight of the nine core international human rights treaties.

Human Rights Watch called the ratification a positive step, but said that Thailand must take action to match its words.

“The best way Thailand can show its commitment is by opening fresh investigations into cases of enforced disappearances,” she said. “Their families deserve justice.”

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Mother of Thai Woman’s Suspicious Death in Bahrain Cries Receiving Her Body

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Khaosod English

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16 May 2024, 20:35

SUVARNABHUMI – Ms. Aim, the mother of Ms. B, a 31-year-old woman who died suspiciously in Bahrain, wept as she received her daughter’s body at Suvarnabhumi Airport, Samut Prakan Province on May 16.

She was assisted by Mrs. Paveena Hongsakula, Chairperson of the Paveena Hongsakul Foundation for Children and Women, and airport officials who facilitated the release of the body.

“I thank Mrs. Paveena for helping coordinate the return of my daughter’s body to Thailand and the generosity of Thai people who donated money. I paid 80,000 baht to the Thai embassy in Bahrain for the repatriation, and the remaining money will be used for the funeral,” Ms. Aim said in tears.

thai woman bahrain3 — Ms. Aim, the mother of a 31-year-old woman who suspiciously died in Bahrain, weeps as she talks about her daughter’s death at Suvarnabhumi Airport on May 16, 2024.

She shared that her family is poor, and Ms. B was a single mother supporting the family. She decided to work in Bahrain in 2021, sending money to her to raise her three young children. She lost contact with her daughter since April 15, 2023 until the Thai embassy contacted Ms. Aim on April 18, 2024, informing her that her daughter’s body was found at Salmaniya Hospital in Bahrain. She was reported to have died on April 18, 2023.

Bahraini doctors stated the cause of death as acute lung and heart failure due to alcohol poisoning, but Ms. Aim did not believe. She noticed bruises on the body in the photographs, possibly from domestic violence. Additionally, when her daughter was alive, she would video call regularly, sometimes showing bruises and mentioning being abused by her Bahraini husband she had been living with since early 2023.

thai woman bahrain1 — Mrs. Paveena Hongsakul held a press conference alongside the mother and sister of Ms. B, who died suspiciously in Bahrain. Images were shown revealing that Ms. B had bruises on her body before her death.

After learning about her daughter’s death, Ms. Aim sought help from the Paveena Foundation on April 20. Thais in Bahrain, upon hearing the news, raised 92,087.56 baht to help cover the cost of sending Ms. B’s body back to Thailand, coordinated by Mrs. Paveena, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Thai embassy in Bahrain.

Upon receiving the body at the airport, Mrs. Paveena arranged for it to be sent to the Institute of Forensic Medicine at the Police General Hospital for an autopsy to determine the cause of death, as requested by the mother and relatives. After the autopsy, the family will hold a funeral at Wat Maklua in the Chom Thong-Dao Khanong area of Bangkok.

thai woman bahrain4 — Ms. Aim thanks Mrs. Paveena for helping coordinate the return of her daughter’s body to Thailand.

Mrs. Paveena warned Thai women considering working abroad to carefully verify details, as they risk being tricked into prostitution, human trafficking, forced drug use, and even being beaten to death.

According to the Paveena Foundation’s statistics from 2004-2022, Bahrain ranked first in the number of Thai women lured into prostitution abroad. In 2023, 219 Thai women were deceived into prostitution, with 56 cases in Dubai (1st), 54 in Myanmar (2nd), and 25 in Bahrain (3rd). Authorities may not be able to help in all cases.

This year, from January to April, three Thai women died in Malaysia, and two in Bahrain, with many cases having unknown causes, which are difficult to investigate due to the deaths occurring abroad.

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Ladyboys Nabbed for Stealing Indian Tourist’s Gold Necklace in Pattaya

By

Khaosod English

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16 May 2024, 17:47

trans steal indian1 — Pattaya police arrested two suspects for stealing a 20-gram gold necklace worth 60,000 baht from an Indian tourist.

PATTAYA – Tourist police officers, in collaboration with the investigation officers of Pattaya City Police Station, arrested two suspects for stealing a 20-gram gold necklace worth 60,000 baht from an Indian tourist.

trans steal indian2 — CCTV footage shows one of the ladyboys hugged the Indian tourist before unhooking his necklace.

The two suspects are ladyboys named Malada or M, 34 years old, and Kachapapak or Nueng, 41 years old.

The theft occurred around 10:50 p.m. on May 9. The 50-year-old Indian tourist, Mr. Subhash, was sitting and relaxing on Pattaya beach, opposite the Elephant Market. The two ladyboys approached him, started a friendly conversation, and one of them hugged him. They took advantage of his distraction to unhook his necklace and flee.

Later, the Indian man realized his property was missing and was certain that the two ladyboys were responsible. He quickly went to file a complaint with the police, hoping they would help track down the culprits. The tourist police then inspected the crime scene and reviewed CCTV footage.

Once the police obtained the descriptions of the two ladyboys, they showed the images to the victim for confirmation. They then requested an arrest warrant from the Pattaya Provincial Court on charges of collaborating in nighttime theft, using a vehicle to facilitate the offense, and taking the property to evade arrest.

The officers tracked down and arrested both suspects at two locations on the night of May 15. They also seized the motorcycle used on the day of the incident before taking the two suspects to the inquiry officers at Pattaya City Police Station.

According to Thai Criminal Code Section 355, whoever dishonestly takes away the property of another person or property of which the other person is a co-owner, which is said to constitute theft by night, shall be punished with imprisonment of one to five years and fined 20,000 to 100,000 Baht.

KMUTNB Makes Remarkable Progress in THE University Ranking 2024

By

Contributor

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16 May 2024, 17:03

The steadily remarkable progress of King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok has been recognized in the latest Times Higher Education Asia University Ranking for 2024. KMUTNB has secured the notable 5th position among Thai universities and was placed among the top 401 – 500 universities of Asia. KMUTNB climbs up to one hundred positions in the prestigious THE Asia University Rankings 2024.

Times Higher Education (THE) is the world leader in university ranking and it has released the Times Higher Education Asia University Rankings 2024 on 30 April 2024. KMUTNB was placed at top 5th position out of 19 Thai universities joining this ranking and 27 Thai universities submitting information for the evaluation. Moreover, KMUTNB has emerged among the top 401 – 500 universities of Asia, while it was originally placed among the top 501 – 600 universities in 2023. This ranking included 739 Asian universities from 30 countries.

Notably, the scores in each performance indicator that KMUTNB has achieved in the Asia University Rankings 2024 reflects the university’s continuous development. Especially, KMUTNB has been placed at the 3rd position among the universities across Thailand for research quality. The achievement of the recognition for its outstanding research performance resonate the KMUTNB’s unceasing commitment and dedication towards the develop of research quality and impact.

For more information about the 2024 Asia University Rankings: https://bit.ly/KMUTNBTHEAsia2024

#THEAsia #THEUniRankings #KMUTNB #Thailand

Pro-Cannabis Advocates in Thailand Rally Ahead of the Government’s Plan to Recriminalize the Plant

By

Associated Press

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16 May 2024, 17:02

Thailand Cannabis — Members of a pro-cannabis group gather at Public Health Ministry to oppose Thai government's plan to relist cannabis as narcotics in Nonthaburi province, Thailand, Thursday, May 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

NONTHABURI, Thailand (AP) — Dozens of pro-cannabis advocates gathered Thursday at the health ministry on the outskirts of the Thai capital, Bangkok, to oppose the government’s plan to relist the plant as a narcotic, two years after it was decriminalized.

The rally came after Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin last week said he would like the plant to be relisted as a narcotic again by the end of this year. Thailand became the first country in Asia to decriminalize it in 2022 for medical purposes, but in practice the market appears virtually unregulated, leading to public backlash and concerns over misuse and crime.

About 30 people came to the health ministry in Nonthaburi, just north of the Thai capital Bangkok, to petition minister Somsak Thepsuthin.

AP24137299849116 — A staff member of a cannabis shop uses his mobile outside the shop in Bangkok, Thailand, Wednesday, May 15, 2024. Dozens of pro-cannabis advocates in Thailand gathered at the health ministry on Thursday to oppose the government’s plan to relist the plant as a narcotic, two years after it was decriminalized. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

The group’s representative, Prasitchai Nunuan, said they all agreed that cannabis should be properly regulated, but that doesn’t require the rescheduling of the plant as a narcotic, noting possible economic impacts on a budding industry.

“Whenever it is relisted as a narcotic, cannabis will be put in jail again,” Prasitchai said as health minister Somsak stood listening to the group’s demands.

Decriminalization of cannabis in 2022 was spearheaded by the Bhumjaithai Party, whose stronghold is in the impoverished northeast where it promised farmers cannabis would be a new cash crop.

Party leader Anutin Charnvirakul became health minister of the previous government, pushing through an amendment to the Narcotics Law, dropping cannabis from the list of controlled substances.

AP24136382765154 — Cannabis smoking equipment on right, at Cannabis shop in Bangkok, Thailand, Wednesday, May 15, 2024. Prime Minister of Thailand Srettha Thavisin said Wednesday, May 8, 2024 that he wants cannabis to be officially classified as a narcotic drug, a rollback from the complete decriminalization of the plant two years ago. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

Somsak, who was appointed as health minister in last month’s cabinet reshuffle, responded that he would take the demands into consideration. The minister said that his standpoint has always been that cannabis should be used for medical purposes only, not recreational.

Chokwan “Kitty” Chopaka, a cannabis shop owner and activist, said that the government’s u-turn on the policy appears to be more political than scientific.

“I think the word stigma hasn’t actually been erased out of cannabis, even with the legalization,” she said.

AP24137299656345 — A tourist sits outside a cannabis shop in Bangkok, Thailand, Wednesday, May 15, 2024. Dozens of pro-cannabis advocates in Thailand gathered at the health ministry on Thursday to oppose the government’s plan to relist the plant as a narcotic, two years after it was decriminalized. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

Russian’s Interrogation Leads to Nigerian Drug Bust in Phuket

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Khaosod English

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16 May 2024, 16:52

nigerian phuket1 — Police officers arrested Mr. Solomon, a 53-year-old Nigerian national believed to be the kingpin of the drug trafficking ring in Phuket.

PHUKET – Phuket Immigration Police announced the arrest of a major drug trafficker and three accomplices in the province. The suspects, all foreign nationals, were caught with a variety of illegal drugs including cocaine, ecstasy and methamphetamine. The total value of the seized drugs and assets is estimated at 4.9 million baht.

The investigation began in early April after police received a tip-off from a group of foreign nationals that a Russian national named Denis was involved in car rental and cryptocurrency exchanges. Undercover police officers approached Mr. Denis and he was offered cocaine at a price of 4,000 baht per gram.

After the transaction, Mr. Denis was arrested and found to be in possession of 0.99 grams of cocaine. Further investigation revealed that Mr. Denis had purchased the cocaine from two Nigerian nationals, Mr. Harison and Mr. Ogadinma. Police then arrested both men after finding 1.4 grams of cocaine hidden in their car.

nigerian phuket2 — An Immigration Police officer explained the investigation that started with the Russian suspect and led to the Nigerian kingpin of the drug trafficking ring in Phuket.

The investigation led police to a bungalow in Chalong, Phuket, where they arrested Mr. Solomon, a 53-year-old Nigerian national believed to be the kingpin of the drug trafficking ring. A large quantity of drugs was seized from the bungalow, including 855 ecstasy pills, 470 grams of cocaine, and 127.8 grams of methamphetamine.

According to police, the street prices for drugs in Phuket are as follows: Ecstasy: 1,000 – 2,000 baht per pill, Cocaine: 4,000 – 5,000 baht per gram, and Methamphetamine: 1,500 – 2,000 baht per gram

The total value of the drugs seized from Mr. Solomon’s bungalow is estimated at 4 million baht. In addition, police seized two cars and 900,000 baht in cash, bringing the total value of the seized assets to 4.9 million baht.

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Foreigners Caught Running Illegal Nursery and Wakeboard Park in Phangan

By

Khaosod English

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16 May 2024, 15:10

phangan nursery russia1 — Inside the illegal daycare in Moo 4, Ko Pha Ngan subdistrict, officers found 10-15 foreign children aged 1 to 3 years old.

KOH PHANGAN – Tourism police and local officials raided on Wednesday an unlicensed nursery on Ko Phangan in Surat Thani province. This is the third such raid in recent months, following similar actions against nurseries run by Americans and Israelis.

The day care center was located in Moo 4, Ko Pha Ngan subdistrict. The officers observed several foreigners dropping off children at the house. They then raided the house and arrested Ms. Anastasia, a 26-year-old Russian national, and Ms. Moe, an 18-year-old Myanmar national, who were acting as caregivers.

Inside the house, officers found 10-15 foreign children aged 1 to 3 years old. The premises also had a playground, classroom, teaching materials, tables, chairs, and food for the children.

phangan nursery russia2 — The house was used as a day care center for foreign children.

Ms. Anastasia said she was on a tourist visa but had been working at the nursery for three months without a work permit. She was hired by Ms. Iryna, a Belarusian national who owns the nursery.

Police charged Ms. Anastasia with working as a foreigner without a work permit. Ms. Iryna is still at large and is charged with hiring a foreigner without a work permit and operating an unlicensed nursery.

Ms. Moe said she had also been hired as a housekeeper. She had worked for over a year and was paid 500 baht a day. She was charged with failing to notify the Immigration Department of her employer, place of employment and type of work within 15 days of starting work.

phangan nursery russia3 — Ms. Moe, an 18-year-old Myanmar national, was also arrested and charged with with failing to notify the Immigration Department of her employer, place of employment and type of work within 15 days of starting work.

On the same day, May 15, police also raided Back & Forth Wake Park, a nearby wakeboarding business that had been operating since December 2023. They arrested Mr. Vladimir, a Russian national who identified himself as the owner.

Mr. Vladimir said he was traveling on a tourist visa and did not have a work permit. He said he had hired Mr. Vladyslav, a Ukrainian national, and Mr. Artiom Ohrimic, a Moldovan national, to build a four-sided metal structure that would serve as a toilet for the wakeboard park. He had agreed to pay them once the construction was completed.

He was charged with working as a foreigner without a work permit and hiring a foreigner without a work permit. The two other foreigners found in the store were also charged with working as foreigners without a work permit.

All five suspects were taken to the Ko Pha Ngan Police Station for further legal action.

phangan wakeboard1 — A Ukrainian and a Moldovan were also arrested, along with the Russian owner of the wakeboard park.

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Journey of Durians from Thai Orchards to Chinese Markets

By

Xinhua News Agency

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16 May 2024, 12:24

durian xinhua chanthaburi2 — A worker packs durians at a processing factory in Chanthaburi, Thailand, April 26, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Teng)

CHANTHABURI – A worker stood atop a durian tree and cut the fruit with a knife, while his colleague caught the durian firmly with a sack under the tree. With the durian harvest season starting in eastern Thailand, farmers are busy organizing workers to cut durians off.

Sasitorn, owner of a durian orchard, has been in the business for over 10 years. Located in Thailand’s Chanthaburi province, Sasitorn’s orchard has more than 2,000 durian trees.

Chanthaburi province, about 250 km away from the capital Bangkok, is an important durian planting area in eastern Thailand.

“It is the harvest season for durians and I have hired more than 40 workers to cut durians every day,” said Sasitorn. She added that the durian production has decreased this year due to drought, but the demand in Chinese market is large.

chanthaburi durian5 — Durians are seen at a processing factory in Chanthaburi, Thailand, May 7, 2024. (Xinhua/Rachen Sageamsak)

“We supply multiple varieties of durian, including kradum, which matures earlier, and Monthong, which is popular among Chinese people,” she said.

The durians picked at Sasitorn’s orchard were quickly transported to a nearby processing factory. Filled with fresh durians in the processing factory, dozens of workers are busy sorting, weighing, packaging and loading the durians.

Virachai, manager of the processing plant, told Xinhua that China is a very important market for them and currently all the durians from their factory are exported to China.

“Our factory has exported 23 containers to China so far this year,” said Virachai, adding that the durians mainly exported through three methods, of which air transportation accounts for 20 percent, sea transportation accounts for 40 percent, and land transportation accounts for 40 percent.

chanthaburi durian4 — Workers transfer durians at a durian processing factory in Chanthaburi, Thailand, May 7, 2024. (Xinhua/Rachen Sageamsak)

Thailand is one of the world’s major durian producers and exporters. According to the data from China’s General Administration of Customs, China’s fresh durian import in 2023 was 1.426 million tons, of which Thai fresh durians were 929,000 tons, accounting for 65.15 percent of China’s total fresh durian imports.

Limited by transportation and warehousing conditions, tropical fruits produced in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) used to be difficult to enter the Chinese market due to its short shelf life.

With the deepening of the construction of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area, the effect of Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and a number of interconnection projects such as the New Western Land-Sea Corridor as well as the rapid development of cross-border cold chain logistics systems and e-commerce, durians and other fruits from ASEAN can be transported into Chinese market more efficiently and conveniently.

chanthaburi durian1 — Workers pack durians at a durian processing factory in Chanthaburi, Thailand, May 7, 2024. (Xinhua/Rachen Sageamsak)

Youyi Port is a land border port with Vietnam in Pingxiang, South China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. In 2023, China imported 282,000 tons of Thai durians through Youyi Port, a year-on-year increase of 162.4 percent. In the first quarter of this year, China imported 48,000 tons of fresh durians through Youyi Port and among them, 13,000 tons of fresh durians were imported from Thailand.

The prosperous import and export trade benefits from the tariff-free policies and improvement of customs clearance efficiency. Huang Feifei, a customs officer from Youyi Port, said the customs department has continuously upgraded intelligent supervision facilities, deepened the construction of special channels for imported durians, and implemented a series of customs clearance facilitation measures such as green channels for imported fruits to ensure that imported fruits can be passed quickly.

chanthaburi durian3 — Workers transfer durians at a durian processing factory in Chanthaburi, Thailand, May 7, 2024. (Xinhua/Rachen Sageamsak)

Located in Nanning, capital of south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, the Haijixing Market, hailed as the largest wholesale fruit market of Guangxi, thrived with an animated atmosphere as people were unloading truckloads of durians from Thailand.

Mo Jiaming, a fruit dealer in Nanning, has been shipping about 50 tons of durians from Thailand to Haijixing Market every day. The fresh durians attracted many dealers and would be sold to the domestic market through various channels such as large supermarkets, fruit retail stores, and e-commerce platforms.

chanthaburi durian2 — A worker transfers durians at a durian processing factory in Chanthaburi, Thailand, May 7, 2024. (Xinhua/Rachen Sageamsak)

“Since this year, we have imported approximately 1,800 tons of durian. Thanks to the facilitation of customs clearance and cold chain preservation technology, the durians from Thai orchards can be transported to our domestic market as fast as three to five days,” said Mo, adding there are more transportation options to import durians, which can be transported by road, sea, air and rail.

Mo has been engaged in the durian import trade for six years and believes that China’s durian market still has huge potential.

“As China-ASEAN economic and trade cooperation continues to deepen, the consumer market continues to rebound and improve. With a series of favorable policies and measures, I believe that durian and other fruits from ASEAN will have a broader prospect in the Chinese market in the future,” said Mo.

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