Chon Buri Police Seize 1,600 Tonnes of Illegal E-Waste in Warehouse Raid

Picture courtesy of Wassayos Ngamkham

In a significant crackdown, police in Chon Buri have seized 1,600 tonnes of illegal electronic waste and detained numerous undocumented migrant workers at a warehouse in Phanat Nikhom district. The operation, conducted on May 25, was a joint effort involving immigration officers, the Department of Industrial Works, and the provincial industry office, prompted by complaints from local residents.

Police Colonel Winyu Jamsai, superintendent of Subdivision 2 of the Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Division (NED), led the raid on the warehouse, which is located within a bonded zone. The facility was managed by a man named Wichai and during the operation, authorities discovered 46 migrant workers engaged in sorting aluminium scraps. Notably, 12 of these individuals were found to have neither work permits nor passports.

Aside from the workforce, the police uncovered the vast quantities of electronic waste alongside two industrial machines used for sorting the materials. The undocumented workers have been taken into custody, and both the seized waste and the equipment are now being held as evidence.

Legal actions have been initiated against the company for operating a factory without the requisite licences and for possessing hazardous materials without proper authorisation. The migrant workers are being charged with illegal entry and working without the necessary permits.

This raid highlights ongoing efforts by the authorities to clamp down on illegal waste processing activities and underscores the serious legal repercussions for those involved in unregulated and potentially harmful industrial practices. The case also raises concerns about the exploitation of undocumented workers within such operations, prompting further examination of the labour conditions and regulatory compliance in bonded zones.

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-05-26