Picture courtesy of Top News

 

In a significant move against ecological exploitation, officers from Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park in Prachuap Khiri Khan recently confiscated 202.5 kilograms of Hin Phra That stones. Known for their spiritual allure, these stones are suspected to have been destined for the thriving amulet market. Authorities are swiftly pursuing those responsible for the illegal extraction.

 

On 1st September, Pisith Charoensuk, the head of Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park, announced that patrols from units 1 and 3, in partnership with the Bueng Bua Nature Study Centre and Division 3 Phetchaburi branch, carried out the operation. They uncovered a green fibreglass boat near Hu Bo Ta Tab, Moo 5, Ban Koh Phai, Rai Mai subdistrict, in the Sam Roi Yot district. The boat contained five modified fertiliser bags, used as backpacks, which were filled with stone fragments.

 

These stones, weighing a total of 202.5 kilograms, are believed to have been intended for illegal sale. Although the suspects fled before the police could apprehend them, the stones and related evidence have been secured at the national park headquarters and transferred to Sam Roi Yot Police Station. The investigation is ongoing, with authorities intent on bringing the offenders to justice.

 

Hin Phra That stones, also known as Hin Phra That Sam Roi Yot, hold great cultural significance. Composed of limestone with distinctive spherical grains or fibrous textures, these stones are treasured among collectors and spiritual enthusiasts, both in Thailand and internationally, particularly in Taiwan. They are revered for their purported protective and lucky properties, making them highly valued in the amulet market.

 

The demand for such stones is fuelled by legends and beliefs surrounding their mystical attributes, leading to a market boom that extends beyond local borders. The illegal trade of these stones can command substantial prices in the spiritual and collector markets.

 

The unlawful extraction of Hin Phra That stones poses a severe threat to the national park's ecosystem. These stones are crucial to the structural integrity of the limestone terrain, providing stability to the soil and supporting local wildlife and plant life. Their removal leads to environmental degradation, disrupting the natural balance and harming the habitat.

 

Moreover, such activities violate the National Park Act of 2019, alongside other environmental protection laws. Illegal extraction can lead to strict penalties, including imprisonment and financial sanctions, possibly amounting to several millions in Thai Baht.

 

This incident highlights the ongoing battle between conservation efforts and cultural-commercial exploitation. The authorities' steadfast response aims not only to protect precious natural resources but also to enforce the legal framework designed to preserve Thailand's environmental and cultural heritage. As the investigation unfolds, the world watches to see whether justice will be served, and the integrity of Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park upheld.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Nation 2025-09-01

 

Hold them to your ear and you can hear the rice grow       🤣

Mystical Stones Seized in Thai National Park Smuggling Bust

 

The ladies love my mystical stones.

15 hours ago, JoePai said:

Hold them to your ear and you can hear the rice grow       🤣

On the news yesterday, lottery day, they showed people praying to a banana plant that had fruited at about a meter tall.

So what happens to the stones now? 

 

Do they return them to the original location like returning a snake to nature.............