Illegal Chinese Owned Recycling Factory Raided: 4,000 Tonnes of Scrap Wiring Seized

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February 1, 20251 yr

Picture courtesy of NEB.

Authorities have raided an illegal recycling factory in Ban Phaeo district, Samut Sakhon, uncovering over 4,000 tonnes of old electrical wiring believed to be hazardous waste. The Chinese-owned facility was abandoned following a recent fire at a nearby plastics factory.

On 31 January, Police Colonel Arun Wachirasrisukanya, Deputy Commander of the Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Division (NED), along with Police Colonel Apisan Chairat, and officials from Samut Sakhon’s Industry Office, conducted an inspection of Theng Da Plastic & Metal Co., Ltd.

This followed a fire on 29 January at an unregistered plastics factory in the same area. After extinguishing the fire, authorities discovered scrap electrical wires and burnt plastic materials, leading them to suspect a connection with another factory 500 metres away.

Upon arrival at the Theng Da factory, officials found matching scrap materials, but the premises were locked and no one came forward to claim ownership.

Local residents stated that the factory was operated by Chinese nationals who fled the site following the fire at the nearby plastics plant. Inside, authorities discovered a massive stockpile of old electrical wiring, some of which appeared to have been imported from abroad.

Many of the wires were already packed into large industrial bags, with the total weight estimated at 3,600 tonnes. Officials confirmed that the facility was operating without a licence and that the materials stored there classified as hazardous waste.

Authorities have determined that the factory was an illegal operation, lacking proper permits. The Samut Sakhon Industry Office has now filed a formal complaint with Ban Phaeo Police Station, seeking legal action against the owner for operating without a licence and possessing hazardous materials without authorisation.

Further investigations will continue to determine the full extent of the illegal recycling operation and whether additional environmental violations have been committed.