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Thailand News

All the latest news stories from Thailand are written in English. Fresh news and stories from around the kingdom brought to you daily.

China leads Thailand flight traffic as new route opens

Thailand recorded 777,456 flights averaging 2,558 a day, with China accounting for the largest share of flights linked to the country, Aeronautical Radio of Thailand Ltd (AEROTHAI) reported.

The total includes international, domestic and overflight movements. AEROTHAI said traffic remained in line with its forecast for fiscal 2026, despite the Middle East conflict affecting travel decisions.

China links dominate

Of the 777,456 flights recorded, 385,991 were international services, 297,234 were domestic flights and 94,231 were overflights.

China was linked to 84,033 flights to, from and over Thailand, the highest cumulative total among the countries listed by AEROTHAI. India followed with 43,131 flights, ahead of Malaysia on 39,641, Singapore on 38,224 and Vietnam on 32,425.

Pichet Kunadhamraks, chairman of AEROTHAI, said the increase in Thailand-bound flights reflected the continuing recovery of the country's aviation sector and pointed to steady growth.

He said aviation remained on a positive course despite external pressures, with Thailand continuing to draw international visitors. Chinese visitors had shown the strongest growth, he said.

For fiscal 2026, running from October 2025 to September 2026, AEROTHAI forecasts 919,643 flights, or an average of 2,520 a day. This would be about 1.64% higher than in fiscal 2025.

New Thailand-China route from September 3

AEROTHAI will introduce the L770 (NAN-SAGAG) route on September 3 in response to rising traffic involving China.

The route has been developed through cooperation between Thailand, China and Laos, and is intended to provide a more direct link between Thailand and China.

According to AEROTHAI, the new routing will reduce flying distances by between 27.5 and 35.2 nautical miles. It is also expected to improve air traffic management, lower airline operating and fuel costs, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The agency said L770 would create additional capacity as travel between Southeast Asia and China expands, while strengthening the regional route network.


Picture courtesy of AEROTHAI

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9 August 2026
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AGT releases Nene Royal's Muse callback early

America's Got Talent has released Nene Royal's Judges' Callbacks performance online ahead of its scheduled television broadcast on August 11, following strong interest from fans.

The clip was published on August 8 on AGT's official YouTube channel under the title: "Early Release: Nene Royal CRUSHES 'Hysteria' by Muse | Judges' Callbacks | AGT 2026".

Nene had previously told followers that the Judges' Callbacks stage would begin on August 4, with her own appearance expected to be shown a week later. The early online publication means her performance is now available before that planned broadcast date.

A new stage for AGT season 21

Judges' Callbacks is a new round introduced for the programme's 21st season. It brings selected contestants back from the audition stage for another on-stage performance before judges decide who progresses to the Live Shows.

For her callback, Nene performed Muse's "Hysteria", combining vocals and guitar on a technically demanding track.

The performance drew enthusiastic applause from both the studio audience and the judging panel. The early-release video highlights Nene's singing, guitar playing and ability to engage the audience during the performance.

Fans focus on vocals and guitar

Viewers from around the world have posted a large number of positive comments below the official YouTube upload.

Many comments praised Nene's vocal control while playing guitar, particularly given the demands of the song she chose for the callback round.

The release does not change the purpose of the Judges' Callbacks: Nene remains among contestants awaiting the judges' decision on who will advance to the Live Shows.


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9 August 2026
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DOPA orders gun checks and school security nationwide

Thailand's Department of Provincial Administration (DOPA) has ordered authorities in every province to intensify controls on firearms, expand checkpoints and patrols, and increase security at schools and other key sites.

The measures were announced by DOPA director-general Narucha Kosacivilize, following the shooting at Debsirin Nonthaburi School in Bang Kruai district, Nonthaburi. The incident involved a student and a firearm, and resulted in deaths and injuries.

Narucha said the department's aim was to maintain public order, cut crime and prevent further violence or copycat incidents elsewhere in Thailand.

Nationwide firearm controls

Provincial authorities have been told to carry out stricter inspections of firearm possession and carrying, with what DOPA described as firm and decisive enforcement.

Firearm registrars must also tell licensed gun owners to store their weapons and ammunition securely, ensuring that others cannot access or use them in a way that could endanger people or property.

District chiefs have been instructed to coordinate administrative officials, including assistant district chiefs, subdistrict heads, village heads, assistant village heads, subdistrict inspectors, Volunteer Defence Corps members and village security teams.

They must increase checkpoints, interception points and patrols at public places, important locations, risk areas, entertainment venues and similar establishments, while strictly preventing people from carrying firearms.

Schools, malls and religious sites

Security is to be strengthened at schools and other educational institutions, religious sites, shopping centres and other important locations. Authorities must also arrange emergency-response drills and guidance so that officials and the public know how to react quickly and correctly in an emergency.

District chiefs have additionally been told to use local administrative mechanisms to monitor people whose behaviour or tendencies may suggest a risk of violence. Parents should be encouraged to supervise children and young people closely.

Authorities must speed up investigations, work with relevant agencies and provide relief, assistance and psychological support to those affected. Victims should receive legal entitlements and other assistance as fully and quickly as possible.

Narucha said DOPA would work with all sectors to prevent violence and improve public safety. Administrative authorities at every level have been instructed to act strictly, decisively and continuously to reinforce public confidence.


Picture courtesy of The Nation

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9 August 2026
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Another death confirmed after Nonthaburi school shooting

A girl has died from a gunshot wound to the head following the violence at a Nonthaburi School, taking the reported death toll to nine. Nonthaburi's public health emergency operations centre said on 8 August 2026.

The girl, identified by the school as Napat Chai Ma, was shot in the head and was in a critical condition while undergoing treatment. Her relatives did not wish for cardiopulmonary resuscitation to be continued, according to Phra Nang Klao Hospital.

The case follows the attack on 7 August, when a 14-year-old male student at the Nonthaburi School shot dead his grandfather and grandmother at their home before travelling to the school and carrying out further violence.

Latest casualty and hospital updates

The emergency operations centre said there were 28 people injured, with 10 in critical condition, five moderately injured and 13 sustaining minor injuries. Twelve injured people have been able to return home.

Phra Nang Klao Hospital also reported that two male patients were now considered in a safe condition. One had been shot in the shoulder and underwent surgery to remove a bullet, while the other was shot in the shoulder blade and suffered bleeding in the chest cavity. Doctors inserted a drainage tube and said his condition had improved.

Kasemrad International Hospital reported two injured people: one teacher who remained in intensive care but was said to be safe, and a male student shot in the foot whose condition.

The hospital-by-hospital breakdown released by officials listed three injured patients at Phramongkutklao Hospital, including two critical cases and one minor injury; two at Siriraj Hospital, one critical and one moderate; and one critical patient at Chulalongkorn Hospital.

Kasemrad International was listed as treating two patients, one critical and one moderate. Thonburi 2 Hospital had one moderately injured patient, while Bang Kruai Hospital had two patients, one moderate and one minor.

School pays tribute to pupil

Thepsirin Nonthaburi School posted a message of condolence for Napat Chai Ma, saying it wished her "eternal peace" and sent support and concern to her family.

The message, issued on behalf of the school's management, teachers, staff and students, urged the family to remain strong through the loss.

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8 August 2026
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Criminologist urges caution over Nonthaburi school shooting

A criminologist has warned against drawing quick conclusions about the motives behind a school shooting at Debsirin Nonthaburi School in Bang Kruai district, Nonthaburi, which left many people injured and dead.

The incident involved a Mathayom 2 male student, who opened fire on fellow pupils and teachers inside the school. Details of the suspected gunman's motive have not been confirmed by authorities.

Speaking on 7 August, criminologist and academic Ajarn Trin Phothiraksa said Thailand needed to learn serious lessons from such attacks, but stressed that claims about mental illness, bullying, resentment towards teachers or violent games should not be treated as fact without evidence.

Motive and risk factors must be separated

Trin said behavioural criminology distinguishes between a motive and risk factors. Bullying, family problems or mental health difficulties may be relevant factors, he said, but do not automatically lead a person to carry out a shooting.

He said information known so far pointed to several possible issues, including long-term bullying, alleged harassment by a group of students, a dispute involving a girl who reportedly complained to a teacher, and the student's reported viewing of overseas murder and mass-shooting videos on YouTube.

However, he said these were only possible explanations and should not be treated as established until properly investigated. The gunman died after the incident.

Trin also questioned why people in the gunman's household had been killed if his intended grievance was against people at school. He said it was an unusual aspect of the case and that outsiders could not know the offender's state of mind at the time.

Calls for metal screening and school psychologists

The weapon was owned by the student's grandfather, raising questions about gun storage and access by children. Trin said cases in which young people use firearms belonging to parents or relatives as weapons or for threats were a repeated warning for families.

He proposed metal detectors and weapons screening at places with large numbers of people, including schools, hospitals and cinemas, rather than restricting such systems to airports, Government House and parliament.

Citing figures previously reported by the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, he said offences against life and bodily integrity committed by children and young people rose about 58.7% between fiscal years 2019 and 2023. Weapons-related cases rose about 92.1%, with most offenders of secondary-school age.

Trin said schools should have psychologists and counselling rooms, while teachers should speak with pupils and parents on both sides when bullying is reported. He added that games themselves were not inherently to blame, though violent content could act as a trigger for children who were already vulnerable.


Picture courtesy of Amarin
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8 August 2026
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British woman admits Thai cannabis smuggling into Heathrow

Amy Jayne Durban, 45, has admitted smuggling 51.2kg of cannabis, valued at GBP512,000 on the street, into Britain after flying from Bangkok to Heathrow Airport.

Border Force officers arrested Durban, from Hemyock, Cullompton, Devon, on 6 July after finding the Class B drug packed into two suitcases. She was remanded in custody after pleading guilty at Uxbridge Magistrates' Court on Thursday 6 August and is due to be sentenced on 14 October.

In a Facebook post days before her arrest, Durban wrote: "On her way home to cut the grass if you know what I mean. No ETA so you won't know I'm about to hit your lawn."

Court hears of alleged courier role

The National Crime Agency (NCA) had been investigating Durban at the time of her arrest. Prosecutor James O'Connell told the court she had also travelled to Thailand in May, although there was currently no evidence that she smuggled drugs on that trip.

Her phone has been sent for forensic downloading and examination, but remains in a queue, the court heard. Durban was living with her partner at a remote address in Hemyock at the time; the couple own vape stores and her partner attended the hearing.

Mr O'Connell opposed bail, citing a risk of further offending. He said Durban's brother had been arrested by a West Country police force in connection with cannabis possession after a warrant was executed at his home.

Defence lawyer Alexander Shanks said Durban would submit a basis of plea arguing she had been pressured and coerced into taking part, and was naive and immature. The prosecution said it would not accept that account without evidence of coercion.



Mr O'Connell said Durban was "definitely a courier" who had been motivated by significant financial reward and hospitality. The court heard she had one previous conviction, for battery in 2000, when she received an 18-month probation order.

Judge Karen Holt rejected bail despite Mr Shanks saying Durban was struggling with significant mental health problems at HMP Bronzefield in Surrey. The judge said the quantity involved made this "an extremely serious case", with a possible starting point of four years in prison.

Warning for Thailand-based travellers

The case is a reminder for foreigners in Thailand, including visitors and residents returning to Britain, that cannabis may be widely visible in Thailand but taking it across an international border remains a serious criminal offence.

The NCA says organised crime groups approach potential drug couriers through social media, offering a free holiday and spending money in return for carrying cannabis to the UK.

It reported 142 cannabis smugglers were caught arriving by plane in 2023, rising to 801 in 2024 - a 464 per cent increase - and 976 in 2025. A further 600 alleged mules were arrested at UK airports in the first six months of this year, putting 2026 on course to be worse.

Following a new NCA crackdown with Thai authorities, suspected smugglers caught in Thailand can face fines equivalent to GBP680 per kilogram. The NCA said an average mule is caught with 26kg, potentially attracting a fine, or a two-year Thai prison sentence if it is not paid.


Pictures courtesy of The Daily Mall

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8 August 2026
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Ugandan ex-footballer held in overstay & sexual services case

Bangkok immigration police have arrested a 29-year-old Ugandan former footballer accused of overstaying and offering sexual services through a dating application used by foreign gay men.

The man, identified only as Mr M, was detained at a hotel in central Bangkok after Immigration Division 1 officers traced what they described as online advertisements for services to his accommodation. Police said he will face legal proceedings before being deported.

Police say dating profile advertised services

The operation was ordered by Immigration Bureau commissioner Pol Lt Gen Phanumas Boonyalak and his deputies, Pol Maj Gen Pratchaya Prasansuk and Pol Maj Gen Phanthana Nuchnarot.



Immigration Division 1 commander Pol Maj Gen Prasat Khemmaprasit, his deputy Pol Col Kittisak Kongkiatsiri, and investigation superintendent Pol Col Polsit Suttiat also directed the operation. Investigators were led by Pol Lt Col Suthirat Thirasawat, Pol Lt Col Thaweesap Chaiyaphum and Pol Lt Col Suriyo Chaiyot.

Police said officers went undercover on a prominent dating app which shows users' locations. They found a profile attributed to Mr M, which allegedly displayed photographs promoting his muscular physique and explicit images in connection with the sale of sexual services.

According to police, an undercover officer contacted the man and learned that he would travel to clients' rooms, mainly at luxury condominiums in central Bangkok.

Police said the quoted starting price was 2,500 baht for travelling to a client or providing companionship, while sexual services started at 4,000 baht, with higher prices possible by agreement.

Hotel search led to overstay arrest

Officers later established that Mr M was staying at a central Bangkok hotel and went to check his room. They said he was found inside and that a large number of condoms were seized as evidence.



A check of his travel documents found that his permission to remain in Thailand had expired, police said.

Mr M reportedly admitted that he had originally entered Thailand as a footballer. After his visa expired and he no longer had a club, he allegedly turned to providing sexual services to foreign men through the dating app to support himself.

Immigration police said they would continue expanding their investigation into networks allegedly using online platforms to conceal prostitution and other offences. Members of the public can report suspected immigration offences through the Immigration Bureau's 24-hour hotline, 1178.


Pictures courtesy of Naewna

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8 August 2026
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Lampang Labrador rescued after motorcycle dragging

A black male Labrador named Tang Tang is recovering after he was allegedly dragged behind a motorcycle for more than 2km through Lampang municipality, leaving him bleeding and injured.

Police at Muang Lampang Police Station are gathering evidence and are questioning the man involved after CCTV footage showed the dog being pulled along several roads in the city during the early hours of 6 August 2026.

The injured dog was left near vegetable stalls outside the Government Savings Bank Market in Lampang at about 3.30am. Traders contacted the Lampang Municipality's disaster prevention and mitigation team after seeing the large, normally gentle Labrador covered in blood.

Several officers were needed to lift Tang Tang into a pick-up truck before he was taken to a veterinary clinic in central Lampang for treatment. Market traders initially collected money to cover his medical costs because they did not know who owned him.



CCTV footage raises questions

Footage later released from local CCTV cameras shows a man riding a motorcycle with a chain around Tang Tang's neck. The dog appears to have tried to run behind the vehicle but was injured as he was dragged over a long distance.

The dog suffered wounds across his body and abrasions to his paws. His owner has since collected him from the clinic and taken him home to recover.

Nareepat, 48, a vegetable seller known as Phi Nok, said she and a porridge seller contributed towards Tang Tang's treatment after being told a man had dragged the dog and left him at the market.

"I saw him covered in blood," she said. She said Tang Tang was now safe but had suffered grazing injuries to his paws and body.

Owner says dog remains frightened

Tang Tang's owner, 39-year-old Natchet Duangprapha, was traced by authorities and said all four paws had been injured, with some claws nearly detached. The 43kg dog did not eat on the day of the incident, although he was able to eat again the following morning, he said.


Pictures courtesy of Khomchadluek

Natchet said Tang Tang had been guarding a garage while he was staying at another home. The dog's chain had broken and become caught around him, he said.

According to Natchet, the man allegedly involved - said to be a food trader at a market - claimed his motorcycle hit Tang Tang and that the dog's chain became tangled in the bike without his knowledge. Natchet disputed that account, saying CCTV footage showed the man repeatedly looking back, while Tang Tang was able to run at some points but was mostly dragged.

The owner has filed a police report. He said the dog remained startled and appeared to be having distressing dreams.

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8 August 2026
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Police send Bangkok fire case against owner to prosecutors

Bangkok police have submitted seven investigation files to prosecutors seeking charges against Suwicha Sailabat, 45, owner of the Na Lat Phrao premises, over the deadly fire at the entertainment venue.

The blaze, which killed 37 people, including those who later died while receiving hospital treatment, and left 77 people with burn injuries.

Police said Mr Suwicha is being pursued both personally and in connection with the business entity that owned the venue. He has not yet been questioned because he remains in intensive care at Paolo Kaset Hospital.

Police cite electrical alterations and blocked exits

At a press briefing at Phahonyothin Police Station at 1pm on 7 August, Pol Maj Gen Kiatkul Sonthanee, commander of Metropolitan Police Division 2, said investigators had sent their findings and recommendations to prosecutors.



Col Issara Na Phatthalung, the lead investigator, said police had taken statements from 211 people, including venue staff, customers, relatives of those who died, specialists and forensic officers.

Investigators concluded that the fire began with an electrical short circuit following alterations to the electrical system. Police said the resulting sparks spread to soundproofing materials.

They also found that the venue layout made escape difficult. Numerous tables were placed inside, while doors intended as fire exits had items placed in front of them, were locked, or otherwise did not meet legal requirements, according to police.

Charges include deaths, injuries and unlicensed operation

Police said the case concerns five major allegations: negligence causing a fire, punishable by up to seven years in prison and a fine of up to 140,000 baht; negligence causing death, carrying up to 10 years and a 200,000-baht fine; causing serious injury through negligence, with up to three years and a 60,000-baht fine; negligence causing bodily or mental harm, carrying up to one month and a 10,000-baht fine; and property damage.

The investigation also alleges that the venue was operating as an entertainment establishment without permission from the authorities.

Pol Maj Gen Kiatkul said the business had four or five partners, but investigators had found no evidence that they took part in its management. The seven case files were therefore submitted to prosecutors for consideration against Mr Suwicha.

The full investigation report is expected to be fully completed and released, once the charges against the owner are reviewed and accepted by prosecutors.


Pictures courtesy of Daily News

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8 August 2026
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Bang Lamung police probe Chinese family abduction

Police in Bang Lamung are investigating claims that a Chinese woman and her young daughter were taken by a suspected Chinese call-centre gang to pressure the woman's husband not to report them.

The husband went to Bang Lamung Police Station at 5.05pm on 5 August 2026, saying his wife and daughter had been removed from their home in a housing estate in the Rong Po area of Chonburi's Bang Lamung district.

He alleged that the group was led by Chinese nationals and had taken his family after he escaped from them and sought police help.

CCTV trail led police to resort

Chonburi Immigration Police, Pattaya Tourist Police and Bang Lamung Police immediately began investigating. CCTV footage from the estate showed the woman and child leaving the house with a Chinese woman known to them before getting into a car and leaving the area.

During the inquiry, the husband made a video call to his wife. Police said she appeared frightened and was crying throughout the call, but could not tell her husband where she was being held.



Investigators later found that the group had taken the mother and daughter to a resort in Nong Pla Lai, Bang Lamung, before switching vehicles and travelling elsewhere. After learning police were closely pursuing them, the group released the pair at around 2.30am on 6 August in Soi Na Kluea 16, Na Kluea.

Officers then took all those involved to Bang Lamung Police Station for questioning.

Conflicting accounts remain under review

In her initial statement, the woman said she had argued with her husband earlier and had only gone elsewhere to stay. Police said they had not accepted that account at face value because evidence and statements from several people contained contradictions.

Investigators believe the husband may previously have worked with the group and was allegedly held for about one month after trying to leave it. He is said to have escaped and reported the matter to police, prompting the group to hold his wife and daughter to deter him from making a complaint.

Those allegations remain under investigation, with officers gathering evidence to establish what happened and whether the case is linked to a transnational criminal network or a call-centre scam operation.

Police also checked the record of Liu Minglong, 37, a Chinese national described as one of those involved. They found he had overstayed his permitted stay in Thailand by 56 days.

Liu had previously been arrested under a Pattaya Provincial Court warrant in June in a case involving joint fraud, forging official documents, using forged official documents and entering false information into a computer system. He was located and detained for legal action.

Police said they will examine financial routes, the relationships between those involved and all available evidence before proceeding against any offenders.


Pictures courtesy of SiamRath

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8 August 2026
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Thailand orders probe into foreign student visa loopholes

Thailand has ordered an investigation into universities suspected of improperly admitting foreign students, while officials review student visa procedures for loopholes that could be exploited.

Deputy Government Spokesperson Patdarasm Thongsaluaykorn said on August 6 that the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI) had been instructed to carry out a comprehensive review.

The move follows media reports questioning whether some universities had accepted foreign students without meeting required academic standards.

Universities must explain admission procedures

Universities under scrutiny will have to account for how they admit overseas students to both degree and non-degree programmes.

Officials will examine the full route from a student's enrolment to their visa application. The stated aim is to identify weaknesses that could enable misuse of education visas.

Patdarasm said the investigation would be conducted impartially. The government intends to close gaps that could be used for personal gain or damage confidence in Thailand's higher education system, she added.

Any university found to have broken laws, regulations or academic standards will face legal action without exception, according to the deputy spokesperson.

Short courses already face tighter controls

MHESI introduced stricter rules last year aimed at preventing foreign nationals from using short courses as a route to work illegally in Thailand.

Under those rules, higher education institutions must submit short-course programmes for government assessment. They are also required to meet tighter standards on course quality, student management and reporting.

Short courses must include at least 60% onsite teaching and may run for no more than 180 days. Universities must monitor attendance, provide the ministry with foreign student data and file regular progress reports through its tracking database.

Institutions that do not comply risk having their short courses cancelled. MHESI has said the measures are intended both to prevent abuse of student visas and to strengthen confidence in Thailand's higher education sector.

For expats, visitors and those considering study as part of a longer stay in Thailand, the practical message is to choose an established institution and ensure the course is genuine, properly registered and includes the required in-person study. Enrolment alone does not guarantee a visa, and applicants should expect immigration authorities to assess applications alongside the school's documentation.


Picture courtesy of Thai Government

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8 August 2026
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Si Sa Ket seizes record 2.646m meth pills

Police in Si Sa Ket have seized 2,646,000 methamphetamine pills, known locally as yaba, hidden in rice fields in Non Khun district - the largest drugs haul in the province's history.

The seizure was announced on Friday, 7 August, at the fifth floor of the Thepha Building at Si Sa Ket Provincial Hall. Governor Anurat Thampramchit and Pol Maj Gen Supachai Sakripanichkul, chief of Si Sa Ket Provincial Police, joined military, administrative, prison and other officials at the briefing.

Drugs hidden in fertiliser sacks

The operation followed a tip-off from a member of the public, who reported 16 suspicious fertiliser sacks placed on two handcarts in a rice field east of Ban Yot, Moo 3, Lao Kwang subdistrict, Non Khun district.

Officers inspected the sacks and found the 2.646 million yaba pills. The drugs were seized and handed to investigators at Non Khun Police Station for legal action.

Pol Maj Gen Supachai said police were gathering evidence and had obtained court-approved arrest warrants for two suspects: 33-year-old Tawan and his 27-year-old brother Aun.

Police identify the pair as key figures in the Phaya Ratchasi network, also known as the "cockfighting camp" group. Investigators believe several further people may be involved and are continuing their inquiries to identify and locate them.



Governor Anurat said Si Sa Ket would continue its Operation 90 Days campaign, aimed at disrupting drug-trafficking networks, confiscating offenders' assets and bringing drug users into sustainable treatment programmes.

Warning over "Happy Water" packets

Police also warned of a drug known as "Happy Water", which has begun appearing in Si Sa Ket disguised in packets resembling collagen or facial skincare products.

According to Pol Maj Gen Supachai, the packets can contain powdered yaba or ecstasy mixed into a substance that can be added directly to drinking water. He said it has severe depressant and stimulant effects, and large amounts can cause convulsions and can be fatal.

The product is commonly found at youth tourist spots and entertainment venues, police said.

People with information about drug dealing or suspicious collagen-style packets can contact the Office of the Narcotics Control Board hotline on 1386, the national police emergency line on 191, their local police station, or the Si Sa Ket Provincial Drug Prevention and Suppression Centre.


Pictures courtesy of Naewna

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8 August 2026
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Myanmar refugees gain Thai pink IDs & legal work

Myanmar refugees who have spent years confined to camps along the border are starting legal jobs in Thailand after receiving non-citizen Thai identity cards, known as pink cards.

The change offers a route to regular work, greater freedom of movement and access to services for people who have long lived in legal limbo. For foreign employers and residents, it also brings more workers into the formal labour system, with documented status rather than informal employment.

At a farm in Nakhon Sawan province, refugees feed soil and rice seed into a conveyor machine that prepares planting trays for Thai farms. Among them is 25-year-old Ney La Jaw, who previously spent much of his life in Mae La, the largest of nine temporary shelters on the Myanmar border, according to the United Nations.

"I do not tire from the work. I can do it," he said.

Ney La Jaw now lives and works more than 200 kilometres from Mae La, earning around 3,000 baht ($90) a week. "I send all of my money home to my mom" in the camp, he said.



From camp life to paid work

Thailand began issuing non-citizen ID cards to Myanmar refugees and their children in June, following decades in which camp residents were barred from leaving and working legally.

The Interior Ministry said about 4,600 people from Myanmar living in camps applied for permission to work legally between October 2025 and July this year. That is a small share of the roughly 80,000 people living in the camps after fleeing conflict in Myanmar, UN figures show.

Myanmar workers have long been employed in Thailand, but the civil war that followed the 2021 military coup has driven more people across the border. Myanmar leader and former junta chief Min Aung Hlaing arrived in Bangkok on Thursday, when Thailand and Myanmar signed a labour cooperation agreement.

In Prachinburi province in July, reporters saw 15 displaced people collect their new pink cards at a district office, where they smiled and photographed the documents to send to relatives.

"After getting the card, I don't have to be afraid anymore when travelling around," said Gay Lah, who fled to a Thai camp with her family aged six. Now working as a scaffolder, she hopes to save enough to buy land, build a home and bring her family out of the camp.

Greater protection, but not asylum

Thailand does not legally recognise refugees or offer asylum, despite its long record of receiving people seeking sanctuary. However, it began authorising legal employment for longstanding refugees last year, and UNHCR said in June that more than 5,500 refugees had joined the workforce since October.

UNHCR called the ID-card scheme a "landmark step towards inclusion, protection and self-reliance for one of the world's most protracted refugee populations".

Phil Robertson of Bangkok-based Asia Human Rights and Labour Advocates said the move was "a huge step forward" and "long overdue". He said the cards allow refugees to access health and other services, support their families and move around more freely.


Picture courtesy of Daily Mall

For 27-year-old Sit Nyein Aye, who fled Myanmar as a child and spent most of his life in a border camp, construction work offers a new start. "Since I have the opportunity, I'm going out to work," he said. "I have my own future."

Employers face labour shortages

Farm owner Manas Lohsuwan said he had previously employed Cambodian migrants, but hundreds of thousands returned home after deadly Thailand-Cambodia border clashes began in July last year, leaving him short of workers.

He said Cambodian workers had more skills and experience, but Myanmar refugees were cheaper to employ and had to remain with the same employer. If they did not want to stay, they had to return to the camp and wait to be recruited again, he said.

For Ko Ko Oo, 29, who was born and raised in a Thai refugee camp, the card brings reassurance when officials check workers' documents. "I do not have to hide."


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8 August 2026


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Body of Singer found in Chao Phraya

The body of former Dragon 5 boy band member Thaman "Tae" Taepun, 46, has been found floating in the Chao Phraya River beneath Rama VII Bridge.

Bangkok Metropolitan Administration disaster prevention and mitigation officers recovered the body and brought it to the pier beneath the bridge. Forensic doctors and officers from Prachachuen police station examined the scene.

The discovery came a day after online appeals were shared widely seeking help to locate Mr Thaman, also known as Tae Dragon 5, after he left home on an early-morning cycle ride and did not return.

Examination at the scene found him wearing cycling attire. He was still wearing a black backpack. Inside the backpack was a heavy cement block. There were no wounds on the body. It is estimated that death occurred at least 12 hours ago.

Missing report filed in Bang Kruai

Mr Thaman's girlfriend, Walaiphan Srinaphaphan, 42, reported him missing at Bang Kruai police station in Nonthaburi at 6.30pm on August 6.



She told officers that he had left their home at about 4am that day on a cream-coloured bicycle, wearing cycling clothes and carrying a backpack. He was not wearing a helmet and had left without his wallet or mobile phone.

Mr Thaman was heading towards the Bang Kruai electricity authority, with reports saying he was last seen turning right towards the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand office on Rama VII Road.

Ms Walaiphan said leaving without his phone was unusual. She said he normally always carried it while cycling, returned home immediately after his ride and had never disappeared in this way before.

After being unable to reach him and finding that close friends had no information, she sought police assistance, fearing he may have come to harm. The ข่าวคนนนท์ facebook page had earlier asked anyone with information to contact the page or Mr Thaman's family.

Mr Thaman was known to Thai pop fans as a member of Dragon 5, a boy band active during the 2000s.


Pictures courtesy of MGR online

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8 August 2026
Georgealbert
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Chonburi drug raids target 20 sites in Huay Yai

More than 300 officers from Thailand's Narcotics Suppression Bureau have searched 20 locations in Huay Yai, Bang Lamung district, Chonburi, in an operation targeting drug dealers linked to an eastern trafficking network.

The raids, which also covered nearby areas, were led by Police Lieutenant General Acharayon Kraithong, commissioner of the Narcotics Suppression Bureau. Senior commanders, deputy commissioners and bureau officers also took part in the operation, named "Restoring Safety to Communities in Chonburi Province".

Police said the searches were aimed at disrupting drug distribution networks and improving public safety in Huay Yai and the wider eastern region.



Network tracked since October 2025

The operation followed an investigation into a drug transport network described by police as the "Eastern Pilot Gang", which officers have been tracking since October 2025.

According to investigators, the network allegedly moved narcotics from neighbouring countries through northern and north-eastern Thailand. Drugs were then reportedly stored in central provinces including Ayutthaya, Saraburi and Prachin Buri before being supplied to smaller dealers in the East, particularly Chonburi.

Police said previous interceptions and follow-up investigations connected to the network had resulted in six drug cases, with 16 suspects arrested.



Across those cases, officers seized more than 20 million methamphetamine tablets and a combined 3.3 tonnes of crystal methamphetamine, commonly known in Thailand as ice.

Two alleged dealers arrested

Intelligence suggested that Huay Yai still had mid-level and small-scale dealers operating in the area, including some former prisoners allegedly involved in narcotics and other crime, police said.

Officers from several Narcotics Suppression Bureau units, including the special Sayob Phairi operational team, simultaneously surrounded and searched the 20 targets.

In the initial results, police said they arrested two alleged small-scale dealers and seized unspecified quantities of methamphetamine tablets and ice. Assets believed to be connected with offences were frozen for legal action.

Wider crackdown in eastern Thailand

Police said the Huay Yai operation forms part of a broader policy to disrupt narcotics networks from supply routes through to street-level distribution, while improving safety in Chonburi and other eastern provinces.


Pictures courtesy of ฉลาม นิวส์

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8 August 2026
Georgealbert
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Thailand's gun culture: why is civilian ownership so high

Thailand has an estimated 10 million firearms in civilian hands, the highest number in ASEAN, according to a Small Arms Survey data cited after a shooting at the School in Nonthaburi.

The estimate equates to roughly one gun for every seven people, or 15 firearms per 100 residents. Of the total, around 6.2 million guns were registered while an estimated 4.1 million - nearly 40 per cent - were outside the registration system.

The figures have again put Thailand's gun controls and the availability of illegal weapons under scrutiny.

Far more civilian guns than regional neighbours

Small Arms Survey estimates place the Philippines second in the region, with about 3.8 million civilian firearms, or 3.6 per 100 people. Cambodia was estimated to have 720,000 guns, or 4.5 per 100 people.

Laos and Malaysia each had about 220,000 civilian guns, equivalent to three and 0.7 per 100 people respectively. Indonesia, despite a population above 263 million, was estimated to have 82,000, while Singapore had 20,000, or 0.3 per 100 people.

The survey said Thailand had ASEAN's largest civilian gun stock. It cited estimates of 1,052,815 firearms held by the military and 230,000 held by law-enforcement agencies, meaning civilian guns outnumbered military weapons by around ten to one and police weapons by about 45 to one.

Only Thailand, the Philippines and Myanmar were reported to have more civilian firearms than the combined totals held by their militaries and law-enforcement bodies.

Laws exist, but enforcement is questioned

Following the 2022 massacre at a childcare centre in Nong Bua Lamphu, TIME described Thailand as having a distinctive gun culture compared with other Asian countries.

Thai gun shops may sell firearms only in limited numbers under licences, and are restricted in the guns and ammunition they can sell each year. Applicants must be at least 20, state a reason such as self-defence, sport or hunting, and face document and import fees; purchases can take up to six months.

Aaron Karp, senior consultant to Small Arms Survey, told TIME that Thailand's laws were neither especially strict nor especially permissive. Their impact, he said, depended on how the public and officials viewed and followed them.

East Asia Forum cited a 2022 Gallup survey in which Thailand scored lowest in ASEAN on safety when walking alone at night, as well as experiences of theft or assault. It also reported Thailand had ASEAN's second-highest firearm death rate per 100,000 people, behind the Philippines.

Black-market supply remains a key concern

TIME also pointed to online black-market sales and weapons smuggled across the Myanmar and Cambodian borders. Paul Chambers, an academic specialising in Southeast Asian politics, said that guns remained relatively easy to obtain, particularly near those frontiers.

Weapons intended for police or military use had reached private hands, with experts citing cases involving sales by military, police and paramilitary personnel.
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8 August 2026
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Malaysians held with 87kg of ice on southern train

Three Malaysian men have been arrested after police found 87kg of crystal methamphetamine, known locally as ice, hidden in luggage aboard a southern train approaching Hat Yai Junction in Songkhla.

The arrests were announced at the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) headquarters on 7 August. Police said the suspects allegedly used the Bangkok-Sungai Kolok rail service to move drugs towards the Malaysian border.

Pol Maj Gen Sarut Khwaengsopha, deputy CIB commissioner and director of its railway crime prevention and suppression centre, joined officers and State Railway of Thailand representatives for the announcement.

Luggage found near carriage toilets

The operation followed intelligence that drug traffickers were using trains to transport narcotics. The CIB and State Railway had established the railway crime centre to improve passenger safety, and officers were instructed to step up patrols.

Officers inspecting Rapid Train No. 171 from Bangkok to Sungai Kolok noticed three wheeled suitcases lined up near washbasins and toilets in a third-class carriage as the train was entering Hat Yai Junction.

Police traced the bags to Malaysian national Mohd Iskandar bin Bujang. A search found 63kg of ice, packed in gold-coloured tea bags, inside the three suitcases.

Further investigation, based on his confession, led police to two alleged accomplices, Mohd Hasrulnizam bin Shamsudin and Enddy Anak Nabau. Officers also seized a further 24kg of ice concealed in overhead backpacks, bringing the total to 87kg.

Route from the border to Bangkok

Pol Col Anusorn Thongsai, superintendent of Crime Suppression Division 6, said all three suspects confessed that they had been recruited through Facebook and Telegram.

They told investigators they were paid 4,000 Malaysian ringgit each, or about 35,000 baht per trip, to transport the drugs.

Police said the men entered Thailand through the Sadao immigration checkpoint at Padang Besar, then flew to Bangkok and stayed at a hotel in the Huai Khwang area. They allegedly collected the luggage containing the drugs, took a taxi to Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal and bought third-class tickets south.

The three men have been charged with jointly possessing a Category 1 narcotic, ice, with intent to sell, in circumstances alleged to cause wider public distribution and affect state security or public safety. They were handed to investigators at Crime Suppression Division 6, while police continue to seek alleged organisers and other network members.

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8 August 2026
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Tom Andrews defends Cambodia border report to Thailand

UN Special Rapporteur Tom Andrews has rejected Thailand's claim that Bangkok was not consulted before he commented publicly on the Thai-Cambodian border conflict.

Andrews said he sent Thai authorities a draft of the relevant part of his report two days before its release in Phnom Penh, but received no reply before the planned announcement went ahead.

In a statement posted on his official Facebook page on Thursday, 6 August, the UN envoy said he remained willing to hear Thailand's account before submitting his final report to the UN Human Rights Council next month.

"I welcome feedback on my statement, including from the government of Thailand," Andrews said. "That is why I sent the Thai government an advance draft of the portion of the statement concerning the border conflict two days before it was issued."

He added that, although no response was received, he was "open and eager" to discuss the Thai government's perspective.

Thailand challenges procedure and findings

The response follows criticism from Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow, who challenged both how the material was delivered and the accuracy of the rapporteur's statements.

Sihasak said the findings were the assessment of an individual UN expert, rather than a document formally endorsed by the United Nations. He noted that the report has yet to be reviewed by the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, where member states can challenge individual claims.

Thailand has argued that independent experts should verify information directly with every affected country and avoid presenting one-sided claims during public press conferences.

Disagreement over 650,000 displaced Cambodians

A central point of dispute is Andrews' reference to around 650,000 Cambodians displaced by the border friction.

Thailand's Foreign Ministry rejected the figure, saying it includes people living in border villages which, Bangkok argues, encroached on Thai territory during Cambodia's internal civil conflicts more than 50 years ago.

According to Thailand, those residents do not meet the legal definition of internally displaced persons. Sihasak also said the assessment failed to account for Thai civilian casualties, damage to Thai schools and hospitals, and Thailand's position that it did not start the clashes.

Andrews said the 650,000 figure came directly from existing UN reports. "While noting Thailand's perspective, the figure was drawn from UN reports and my reference to those displaced is based on human rights concerns which apply regardless of conflicting territorial claims," he said.

He also addressed claims involving Cambodian migrant workers, noting Sihasak's earlier clarification that they were not forcibly deported by Thailand but returned to Cambodia following calls by the Cambodian government.

"Because whether one is Thai or Cambodian, human rights matter," Andrews said.


Picture courtesy of The Nation

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8 August 2026
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Car crash injures 13 children at Kanchanaburi centre

Thirteen children were injured after a car crashed into a child development centre in Muang district of Kanchanaburi on Friday 7 August 2026, while they were taking their midday nap.

The crash happened at about 12.30pm at Ban Nong Song Child Development Centre in tambon Kaeng Sian, police said. A car carrying two people veered into the building where the children had been sleeping.

Preliminary information indicated that the 54-year-old driver has a heart condition and may have lost consciousness before the vehicle left the road and struck the centre.



Children taken to hospital

A teacher told police that 34 children were at the centre when the car entered the building. Thirteen were injured, with most suffering head injuries, while the other 21 children were unharmed.

Emergency responders and rescue workers attended the scene and took the injured children to hospital. The Rattanavudh Foundation said none of the injured children was in a serious condition.



Photographs from the scene showed blankets scattered across a room used by the children for their afternoon rest.

Parents request alcohol test

Parents have asked police to carry out an alcohol and drugs test on the driver, saying they want every aspect of the case clarified.

The case remains under investigation, with the driver's reported health condition forming part of the preliminary police account of why the car crashed into the centre.

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8 August 2026

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Prasert orders nationwide school security crackdown

Education Minister Prasert Jantararuangtong has ordered schools across Thailand to raise security to their highest level after a shooting at a school in Nonthaburi on Friday, August 7.

The minister also instructed education agencies to provide mental-health assistance to people affected by the attack, while calling on social-media users not to circulate material showing how it was carried out.

Prasert made the orders while on an inspection visit to Ubon Ratchathani. He said he had coordinated with police to help bring the situation under control and had issued three urgent measures addressing the immediate consequences and longer-term school safety.

Limit sharing of attack material

The first measure concerns information shared online about the Nonthaburi shooting.

Prasert asked social-media users and other sectors to avoid posting details or images that show how the attack was conducted. He said such material could encourage copycat behaviour and repeatedly expose viewers to harmful content.

The request is particularly relevant for parents and students who may encounter unverified posts in group chats and on social platforms following the incident. The minister's appeal is for restraint in sharing attack-related material, rather than a general warning against discussing school safety concerns.

Support for those affected

Under the second measure, relevant agencies must provide psychological support without delay.

The assistance is intended not only for injured people but also for students, teachers, school staff and others who were at the scene during the incident.

Mental-health support will be an important practical concern for overseas families whose children, or family members, were directly affected. Parents seeking help should contact their school or the relevant education agency, which has been directed to arrange support.

Schools told to take maximum precautions

The third directive requires schools nationwide to increase their security measures to the highest level.

Prasert said the Education Ministry was especially concerned with preventing further violence in educational environments. He described school safety as the ministry's top priority and said the shooting was something nobody wanted to see.

The ministry will take steps intended to prevent a recurrence, he added. No further operational details of the security measures were included in the minister's announcement.


Picture courtesy of The Nation

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8 August 2026
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Thailand faces US section 301 tariff test

Thailand is facing a potential turning point in trade talks with the United States, with the outcome of a proposed Agreement of Reciprocal Trade (ART) expected to determine the level that Thai exports face in a new tariff structure, likely to be 19%, but with a worse case scenario being as high as 36%.

Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Suphajee Suthumpun said Thailand must navigate the US move towards using Section 301, which allows Washington to investigate and impose measures against trading partners over practices it considers unfair.

The analysis, published by SiamRath, said the US approach has moved from the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), through Section 122, to Section 301. Unlike the previous mechanisms, Section 301 includes public hearings, giving Thailand time to submit evidence but also exposing it to scrutiny on politically sensitive issues.

Forced labour rules under scrutiny

One issue under preliminary consideration is forced labour. Thailand has reportedly been assigned a 12.5% tariff rate on this issue, compared with 10% for countries that have already signed an ART agreement.

Thailand has laws regulating labour within the country, but it does not yet have legislation banning imports made through forced labour. The Commerce Ministry and Justice Ministry are therefore pushing a Human Rights Due Diligence (HRDD) bill towards parliament.

The proposed law is intended to strengthen human-rights checks across supply chains and bring Thai industry more closely into line with environmental, social and governance standards. Supporters see it as a longer-term trade safeguard, rather than simply a concession to the US.

US questions Chinese-linked capacity

The more sensitive issue is alleged industrial overcapacity. The US is focusing on Thailand's automotive, automotive-parts and tyre sectors, which have received substantial Chinese investment in recent years.

Thailand's negotiating team has submitted figures showing capacity utilisation of 75% to 95%, well above the 60% level that has raised US concerns. Yet the wider US worry is reportedly that Thailand could be used as a route for Chinese goods to gain Thai origin status and avoid US tariffs.

Thailand will need to demonstrate that its industries create genuine domestic value and operate as independent supply chains, rather than acting as a transit point for overseas capital and products.

Suphajee's wider strategy includes accelerating an ART deal and reviewing a joint statement to make planned imports from the US more flexible. Options mentioned include spreading agricultural purchases over stages or reducing the number of aircraft bought.

Agriculture remains a domestic red line

Any agreement could also face resistance at home. The SiamRath analysis noted that Thai civil-society groups and farmers are politically active, and warned that allowing cheaper US agricultural goods into Thailand could hurt local producers.

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7 August 2026

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Bus driver jailed over Khon Kaen medical student's death

Thailand's Supreme Court has ordered a bus driver to serve two years in prison without suspension over the death of a second-year Khon Kaen University medical student in a 2022 collision on campus.

The ruling was read at Khon Kaen Provincial Court on 6 August. The court initially imposed a four-year prison term on the defendant, before reducing it to two years.

Arunnapa Wattapanich, known as Eye, died after a Faculty of Nursing bus struck her motorcycle inside Khon Kaen University in August 2022.

Her mother, Nitaya Rungsathit, and the family's lawyer, Rujiwat Sirawongwichan, attended the hearing. Reading of the Supreme Court judgment took about 40 minutes.

Family calls for road-safety lesson

Nitaya said that, four years after losing her daughter in what she described as an accident caused by negligence, her family had sought more than a court verdict.

She said they wanted the case to serve as a lesson for society, encouraging all road users to understand the consequences of carelessness before another loss occurs.



"The sorrow has been there since the day of the incident," she said. "But throughout the case, what we intended was for society to see that accidents caused by negligence do not create losses only for victims. They also affect those responsible and every family's relatives."

She added: "If people are afraid before an incident happens, accidents will decrease. If Eye's life can help reduce injuries and deaths for others, that would be worthwhile."

Civil claim has not yet concluded

A separate civil case is still pending. Eye's parents sued Khon Kaen University, the defendant and the defendant’s employer, seeking 50 million baht in damages.

The Appeal Court ruled that the university must pay compensation of 9 million baht to each parent.

That defendant is now seeking permission to appeal to the Supreme Court. If permission is refused, the civil judgment will become final.


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7 August 2026
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Hat Yai police rescue teen from 2m baht scam

Police in southern Thailand have rescued an 18-year-old from an apartment in Hat Yai after he was allegedly persuaded by a call-centre scam gang to transfer 2 million baht.

The victim, identified only as "Mr A", was found alone in a room near Central Hat Yai on Thian Chot Uthit Road on 5 August 2026. Police said the scammers had also instructed him to cut contact with his family and find a further 5 million baht.

Police locate victim after father's report

The Technology Crime Prevention and Suppression Operations Centre of Provincial Police Region 9 was alerted at 4.30pm by the teenager's father, who said his son had transferred 2 million baht and could no longer be reached.

The operation was overseen by Pol Maj Gen Wara Wechapinun, deputy commander of Provincial Police Region 9, and Pol Maj Gen Marut Rueangjintana, the region's investigation commander. Pol Col Chakrawut Boonrueang, deputy investigation commander, led officers to the location.

Police first found the teenager's motorcycle outside a building in the Thian Chot Uthit Road area of Hat Yai, Songkhla. They then checked nearby apartments and daily-rental rooms before locating him.

Officers entered the apartment and found the teenager alone. At the time, he was on a video call with the alleged scammers. Police said the caller ended the conversation immediately after seeing officers on the phone screen and deleted the Line application account.

Scammers allegedly used study-abroad story

During initial questioning, the teenager told police he had received a call claiming he was linked to a case involving the registration of SIM cards for a criminal group.

He was reportedly told to prove his innocence by transferring money. The teenager then told his parents that he had received a scholarship to continue his studies overseas and needed 2 million baht.

His parents believed the explanation and transferred the money. Police said the teenager then sent it on to the scammers in four instalments of 500,000 baht, totalling 2 million baht.

After receiving the money, the scammers allegedly told him to rent a room, sever contact with his parents, relatives and friends, and obtain another 5 million baht. Police reached him before any further money was lost.

The teenager is being taken to investigators to make a formal statement, while police pursue further enquiries to identify those involved.


Picture courtesy of Komchadluek

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7 August 2026
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Two grandparents found shot after Nonthaburi school attack

Police investigating the shooting at Debsirin Nonthaburi School have found two further bodies at the suspected gunman's home in Bang Bua Thong, Nonthaburi. The victims were identified as the pupil's grandfather and grandmother, both shot in the head.

The discovery was reported at 12.49pm on 7 August. Investigators believe the teenager killed his grandparents before travelling to the school.

The school attack left 15 people injured and seven dead, including the pupil suspected of carrying out the shooting. He used a 9mm firearm to shoot himself and later died while being taken to hospital.

Police examine home and weapon source

Nonthaburi provincial police investigators went to the suspect's house, in a housing estate off Soi Wat Lat Pla Duk in the Bang Bua Thong area, to examine possible motives and gather further evidence.

The two bodies were found inside the property during that search. Reports said the suspected gunman had lived with his grandparents throughout his life, while his parents had separated when he was a child. Police are continuing to establish the sequence of events.

Senior officers join investigation

Deputy national police chief Pol Gen Samran Nuanma, Pol Lt Gen Nopasilp Poolsawat, attached to the Office of the National Police Chief, and Deputy Interior Minister Polpheer Suwanchawee attended the school scene.

Authorities said their work includes collecting forensic evidence, questioning witnesses, tracing the origin of the firearm and examining the motive.


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7 August 2026
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School shooting: Deaths & multiple injuries reported

A shooting was reported inside a school in Bang Kruai district, Nonthaburi, on the morning of 7 August 2026, leaving an initial reported multiple people injured.

Local police, rescue workers and emergency medical teams were sent to the school after the incident caused alarm among teachers, pupils and other staff.

Authorities moved to take control of the situation, provide urgent assistance to those inside and evacuate students, teachers and personnel from areas considered at risk.

Police search the school and secure the area

Officials cordoned off the surrounding area for safety while examining the scene and searching for the person responsible, according to the initial report.

Relevant agencies were also called in to support the operation. At the time of reporting, officers were collecting evidence and checking the facts surrounding the shooting.

The cause of the incident and the suspected motive had not been established. No further information on the condition of those injured, the identity of the alleged gunman or whether an arrest had been made has been released yet.

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7 August 2026
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