Persistent Chiang Mai gang arrested for bird food scam on tourists

[webfact]

Police have detained members of a scammer gang at Tha Phae Gate, Chiang Mai, who were scamming tourists by selling bird food and charging them for photos, deemed to be damaging the area’s reputation as a tourist destination.

 

Today, July 19, officers from the Tourist Police Division 2, led by Makara Srisakulpisut and Nithipat Bunmak, conducted a thorough inspection of the Tha Phae Gate area.

 

They discovered individuals secretly selling bird food to tourists and then taking photos without consent before demanding payment. The two police officers consider this scam to have negatively impacted the tourism image of the area.

 

Makara stated that this crackdown is part of Operation 10 Prohibited Groups, aimed at maintaining the safety and confidence of both Thai and international tourists in key economic and tourist areas. The operation is a response to directives from the Tourist Police Bureau to enhance the order and security of tourist destinations.

 

Previously, local and Tourist Police had arrested similar scammers but the problem persisted. During the recent operation, three individuals were apprehended. The suspects included 55 year old Buyae from Chiang Rai, 35 year old Phetai from Nan, and 41 year old Rohani, a Chiang Mai native.

They were charged with causing a public nuisance. The police confiscated bird food and bird-repelling equipment used in their scam. and the arrested individuals were taken to Muang Chiang Mai Police Station for further legal proceedings, reported KhaoSod.

 

Known for its rich culture and historical sites, continues to attract tourists from around the world. The local police are determined to preserve the city’s charm and safety for all visitors.

 

by Ryan Turne

Image courtesy of KhaoSod

 

Source: The Thaiger 2024-07-20

 

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[Thailand]

Hasn't this been going on for years?

[brianthainess]

3 hours ago, Thailand said:

Hasn't this been going on for years?

Yep. You'd think they would monitor this a LOT more.

 

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Previously, local and Tourist Police had arrested similar scammers but the problem persisted. During the recent operation, three individuals were apprehended.

 

[brianthainess]

I remember the kids on Pattaya beach with caged Sparrows, pay money to set them free, only to appear later with more. 

[jippytum]

the birds are  pests and notices to prohibit feeding them have been disreguarded for years. 

[hotchilli]

2 hours ago, brianthainess said:

I remember the kids on Pattaya beach with caged Sparrows, pay money to set them free, only to appear later with more. 

Got an old lady who sits at the entrance gates to Phra Pathom Chedi temple, she had caged birds every day for as long as I can remember...

Locals and visiting tourists pay to have them released.

[Elkski]

Why wasn't photography and vehicles confiscated?   Same same tit. 

[Nick Carter icp]

Just now, Elkski said:

Why wasn't photography and vehicles confiscated?   Same same tit. 

 

   They use the tourists phones to take the photos and they don't have vehicles  

[The Old Bull]

13 hours ago, brianthainess said:

I remember the kids on Pattaya beach with caged Sparrows, pay money to set them free, only to appear later with more. 

I was by one of those outfits in Laos . I heard a pile of birds squawking and when I looked over a wall I saw a cage with a few birds  and a huge pile of bird seed inside , about a dozen birds outside trying to get in to the bird seed were doing all the squawking.

[lexilis]

What is "bird repelling equipment"?

[Dcheech]

 

On 7/20/2024 at 1:19 PM, hotchilli said:

Got an old lady who sits at the entrance gates to Phra Pathom Chedi temple, she had caged birds every day for as long as I can remember...

Locals and visiting tourists pay to have them released.

That is because it is a Thai Buddhist tradition (ปล่อยนก)  to release them and make merit. Same with fish & whatnot. See it all over Thailand. 

----------------------------------------

The bird junk at Thaipai gate has nothing to do with making merit. Chinese tourists want pictures of pigeons swirling around, flying, with them in it, at Thapae square. There was a scene in that movie (L. in CM) like this. Now it is a bleeding tourist activity - feed the birds and get pictures of them with you in it.   It is also why they have gotten away with it for so long, 'Chinese tourists think it a part of their CM tourist trip'. So the plod let them. Finally it is getting to be such a pain in the hind in, they are actually, reluctantly, doing something about it. BTW, no mention is made of the specific tourist group funding & fueling this activity, because, well, they are SPECIAL. 

[BobBKK]

On 7/20/2024 at 1:19 PM, hotchilli said:

Got an old lady who sits at the entrance gates to Phra Pathom Chedi temple, she had caged birds every day for as long as I can remember...

Locals and visiting tourists pay to have them released.

 And contribute to the continuing capture of birds.

[BobBKK]

On 7/22/2024 at 8:46 AM, Dcheech said:

 

That is because it is a Thai Buddhist tradition (ปล่อยนก)  to release them and make merit. Same with fish & whatnot. See it all over Thailand. 

----------------------------------------

The bird junk at Thaipai gate has nothing to do with making merit. Chinese tourists want pictures of pigeons swirling around, flying, with them in it, at Thapae square. There was a scene in that movie (L. in CM) like this. Now it is a bleeding tourist activity - feed the birds and get pictures of them with you in it.   It is also why they have gotten away with it for so long, 'Chinese tourists think it a part of their CM tourist trip'. So the plod let them. Finally it is getting to be such a pain in the hind in, they are actually, reluctantly, doing something about it. BTW, no mention is made of the specific tourist group funding & fueling this activity, because, well, they are SPECIAL. 

That's not true - many of the 'tourists' are Thais, and it has been there since I started coming 25 years ago. You are correct that it is a misunderstanding of 'making merit' as it adds to the hideous practice of capturing and selling animals - which is very bad karma. However, most Thais have little or no understanding of Buddhist teachings.