Samut Sakhon—
Thai authorities launched a large-scale search operation in Samut Sakhon on illegal and unidentified agricultural products at over 21 locations.
On October 17th, 2023, Mr. Somchuan Ratanamungklanon, the Director General of the Department of Livestock Development, the Consumer Protection Police Division (CPPD), and other relevant agencies conducted an inspection on a large group of cold storage units in Khok Kham, Mueang Samut Sakhon, Samut Sakhon.
During the investigation, police sources reported that there was smuggling of illegal and unidentified agricultural products such as: Buffalo meat, pork, and poultry, reportedly imported from overseas without permission from the Department of Livestock Development and the Department of Fisheries.
However, as of press time, the exact amount of smuggled meat was still under investigation.
Somchuan publicly revealed to Thai media that according to the order of Capt. Thamanat Prompow, Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, a special operations team, particularly skilled in prosecuting illegal and unidentified agricultural products in smuggling, was assigned to the case.
In Samut Sakhon, there were over 21 locations that were simultaneously searched for illegal meat smuggling activities from 140 other locations.
Furthermore, the business owners of the locations were summoned for interrogation of the facts on the stored meat products in the cold storage units. The relevant officials pledged to conduct a further investigation to hold involved individuals accountable.
