Authorities Crack Down on Illegal Gold Mining in Pilok Forest

[Georgealbert]

 

Picture courtesy of Daily News.

 

A joint operation by officers from Thong Pha Phum National Park and soldiers from the Lad Ya Task Force has led to the arrest of an illegal gold mining gang in Pilok Forest, Kanchanaburi. The authorities seized a large number of items, including wildlife carcasses and weapons.

 

Under the direction of Chutidet Kamonnachanut, Director of the Protected Areas Regional Office 3 (Ban Pong), Chakrit Tanpirun, District Chief of Thong Pha Phum, and Colonel Phannasak Phriyaophanit, Commander of the Lad Ya Task Force, the operation was launched following intelligence reports that a group had entered the protected area with weapons to illegally mine for gold.

 

Led by Yutthaphong Damsrisuk, Senior Forestry Officer and Head of Thong Pha Phum National Park, a team comprising park rangers and soldiers from the Lad Ya Task Force, Surasi Force, began their patrol at 16:00, on 29 March. They navigated through dense forest, following old logging trails, streams, and steep ridges for 16 kilometres westward into an area previously investigated for illegal mining.

 

Upon arrival, officers discovered multiple motorcycles parked at the site. They concealed themselves until daylight before thoroughly inspecting the area. They found numerous excavated pits measuring 1×1 metres, with depths of 10-15 metres, as well as signs of soil and rock selection for gold extraction. The soil was being transported to a stream for further sifting to extract gold deposits.

 

At approximately 07:30 on 30 March, the officers heard voices from a group of people, both men and women, preparing food at a makeshift shelter by the stream. The team swiftly moved in and successfully detained 11 individuals, categorised into four separate cases:

 

1. Case 1 – Arrest of Mrs. Powah, 31, of Karen ethnicity, residing in Ban Mai Rai Pa (Por Sam Ton), Thong Pha Phum District. Seized items: six pieces of evidence, including plastic bags containing soil and gold ore, weighing over 2 kg.

 

2. Case 2 – Arrest of Miss Dawarn, 30, also of Karen ethnicity, from the same village. Seized items: five pieces of evidence, including plastic bags with 2.6 kg of soil suspected to contain gold ore.

 

3. Case 3 – Arrest of five Myanmar nationals: Mr. Saw Khopa (39), Mr. Khepli (40), Mr. Soda (30), Mr. Lek (27), and Mrs. Acy Paw (38). Authorities confiscated a .22-calibre rifle with a scope, 45 rounds of ammunition, 15 excavation tools, gold panning equipment, and filtering sheets.

 

4. Case 4 – Arrest of four individuals without legal residency status: Mr. Lobu (31), Mr. Tan Toon (51), Mrs. Mitui (40), and Mrs. Ae Paw (52). Authorities made a shocking discovery, seizing wildlife carcasses, including a female sambar deer (17.4 kg), two masked palm civets, a large frog, and a softshell turtle. Also seized were two homemade .22-calibre rifles, four rounds of ammunition, plastic vials containing 14 grams of gold ore, five motorcycles, and over 24 pieces of mining and panning equipment, including large sacks of excavated soil.

 

The crackdown was carried out under the directives of Dr. Chalermchai Sri-on, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, and Atthaphon Charoenchansa, Director-General of the Department of National Parks. They have ordered all protected area units to conduct strict anti-poaching, anti-mining, and anti-forest burning operations to safeguard conservation zones.

 

All suspects have been handed over to Pilok Police Station for further legal proceedings.

 

Authorities noted that this was not the first operation in the area. In November 2024, a similar raid took place, yet illegal miners returned to exploit the same site. This latest enforcement action sends a clear message of the government’s zero tolerance towards forest encroachment and environmental crimes.

 

 

-- 2025-03-31

 

 

 

[Tropicalevo]

3 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

This latest enforcement action sends a clear message of the government’s zero tolerance towards forest encroachment and environmental crimes.

 

Well, it did not work last year if they are back again this year.