Tons of meat seized in Phuket beef smuggler raid

[Lite Beer]

Tons of meat seized in Phuket beef smuggler raid
Eakkapop Thongtub

Navy personnel forced the open open. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

PHUKET: Two tons of meat were seized when Royal Thai Navy troops raided a beef cold-storage facility north of Phuket Town yesterday (June 26).

Acting on a tip-off, 25 officers carried out the raid, on a house in the residential area in Soi Siangtai in Rassada.

Among the raid party were Navy personnel led by Lt Sompop Kamkana, meat inspectors and police led by Phuket City Police Deputy Superintendent Lt Col Koondet Na Nongkai.

At the back of the house, officers found a makeshift cold room equipped with a security camera.

With no persons home, the Navy personnel forced opened the door, to find an estimated one million baht of meat in sealed bags.

However, Somboon Intarat, 55, soon arrived home to find his stash had been raided.

Mr Somboon presented officers documents that he said proved his meat import business was legitimate, but officers said they had yet to confirm that the meat was imported from countries that he had permits for.

Although placed under arrest for suspicion of illegally importing meat into the country, Mr Somboon has yet to face any formal charges.

Officers leading the raid told The Phuket News that they expect their investigation into the origin of the meat found to take at least 10 days.

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/tons-of-meat-seized-in-phuket-beef-smuggler-raid-52967.php

-- Phuket News 2015-06-27

[amerasianex]

Puket cops have nothing better to do than hunt down meat smugglers? Every time I open the news somone is getting murdered there usually a tourist. But maybe that kind of crime isgood for the country......................................................................... WOW!

[zaphod reborn]

Good work!!! We can't have a plentiful supply of high-quality, inexpensive imported beef flooding the markets. How else can we ensure that poor quality Thai beef remains the only affordable choice at the market and in restaurants?

[Guest]

On the other news, related to this.

Chinese authorities have seized more than 100,000 tonnes of smuggled meat - some of it more than 40 years old, according to state media.

The frozen meat, estimated to be worth about £300 million (3bn yuan; $483m), was seized in a nationwide crackdown.

Source: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-33254123

I don't believe that report. It would be very costly to keep the dead meat without fully decomposing for 40 years.

[surangw]

so, will the meat be taken and let spoil till its all sorted out.

looks like someone was undercutting the price of some connected company to me.

[daoyai]

On the other news, related to this.

Chinese authorities have seized more than 100,000 tonnes of smuggled meat - some of it more than 40 years old, according to state media.

The frozen meat, estimated to be worth about £300 million (3bn yuan; $483m), was seized in a nationwide crackdown.

Source: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-33254123

I don't believe that report. It would be very costly to keep the dead meat without fully decomposing for 40 years.

you would be surprised at what gets "burried" in the back of large walk in freezers. I know, not all the chinese find was 40yo, most more recent. The smugglers may have had a business cleaning out this old frozen meat then selling it. I did the same with old frozen fish, got it for free and used it in pet food....... this guy in Phuket may be legit, maybe they should test the meat and check his records before arresting him but, TIT.

[Shot]

[ezzra]

Chinese authorities have seized more than 100,000 tonnes of smuggled meat - some of it more than 40 years old, according to state media.

I have heard about the virtues of aged meats, but this is ridicules...

[impulse]

Chinese authorities have seized more than 100,000 tonnes of smuggled meat - some of it more than 40 years old, according to state media.

I have heard about the virtues of aged meats, but this is ridicules...

Guess you can go in and order an '83 sirloin to go with that fine wine from the same vintage.

What wine goes good with rotten meat, red or white?

[Rogergreybeard]

Wonder where it will finish up???

[little mary sunshine]

What's the address??? Good imported beef ,

This Thai beef is tasteless and you can't even

chew it...Soi dogs don't even like it

[shaggy851]

Better they found it then if it's origin is unknown. Might be high quality but then again it might be frozen and re thawed without any used by dates as with the Chinese haul not that any one has said they are related.

[realenglish1]

Now that age old question has finally been answered

"WHERE'S THE BEEF"

Now we can finally sleep at night

[smotherb]

Good work!!! We can't have a plentiful supply of high-quality, inexpensive imported beef flooding the markets. How else can we ensure that poor quality Thai beef remains the only affordable choice at the market and in restaurants?

Yes, there indeed is a difference. I just returned from Cambodia where good Aussie beef is cheaply and readily available from many sources. Cambodia simply does not charge the exhorbitant import duties Thailand charges on imported beef. Perhaps too much big money is involved in Thai beef production.

[little mary sunshine]

.......Woff.....!!!

[quandow]

I'd bet my bottom baht that homeowner pissed off the wrong connected guy.

[Lupatria]

Maybe I'm here too long. My first thought was I wonder how many high ranking cops in Phuket are in the beef business?

[NamKangMan]

Good work!!! We can't have a plentiful supply of high-quality, inexpensive imported beef flooding the markets. How else can we ensure that poor quality Thai beef remains the only affordable choice at the market and in restaurants?

Yes, there indeed is a difference. I just returned from Cambodia where good Aussie beef is cheaply and readily available from many sources. Cambodia simply does not charge the exhorbitant import duties Thailand charges on imported beef. Perhaps too much big money is involved in Thai beef production.

Thailand has always over taxed products that are in demand from farang.

Not only do they make a lot of money out of those farang prepared to pay, but they also protect their own inferior, locally produced product, which becomes considerably cheaper to purchase, because many times cheap Issan or Burmese labour is used in production.

Those in control, simply create a monopoly, because they can influence the amount of tax placed on an imported competing product.

It's just one reason why Thailand is now struggling to offer a quality, value for money holiday, to tourists.

[surangw]

Now that age old question has finally been answered

"WHERE'S THE BEEF"

Now we can finally sleep at night

are they sure some of the smaller cuts are really beef?

[sammygood]

25 coppers actiong on a tip of meat, what were they expecting ? armed guards ?

and thailand has to import meat now? concerning if it is half rotten & then sold to markets ...

[bamukloy]

On the other news, related to this.

Chinese authorities have seized more than 100,000 tonnes of smuggled meat - some of it more than 40 years old, according to state media.

The frozen meat, estimated to be worth about £300 million (3bn yuan; $483m), was seized in a nationwide crackdown.

Source: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-33254123

I don't believe that report. It would be very costly to keep the dead meat without fully decomposing for 40 years.

you would be surprised at what gets "burried" in the back of large walk in freezers. I know, not all the chinese find was 40yo, most more recent. The smugglers may have had a business cleaning out this old frozen meat then selling it. I did the same with old frozen fish, got it for free and used it in pet food....... this guy in Phuket may be legit, maybe they should test the meat and check his records before arresting him but, TIT.

id have to call BS on the 40y.o claim. For starters how could they possibly know by just looking?

It makes no sense anyway, after that time it would be freezer burnt beyond recognition.

Maybe if a heavily marbled primal you could shave a couple of inches off and ressurect it.!

[impulse]

id have to call BS on the 40y.o claim. For starters how could they possibly know by just looking?

It makes no sense anyway, after that time it would be freezer burnt beyond recognition.

Maybe if a heavily marbled primal you could shave a couple of inches off and ressurect it.!

Not so far fetched...

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/articles/2555/prehistoric-meat-up

http://mentalfloss.com/article/57100/time-250000-year-old-mammoth-was-served-dinner

http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/2725/prehistoric-its-whats-for-dinner

http://www.cnet.com/news/scientists-uncover-frozen-mammoth-blood-flows-out/