Chachoengsao —
On November 9th, 2024, Chachoengsao authorities uncovered an illegal factory operation in a warehouse complex in Plang Yao District.
The investigation revealed that nine out of ten warehouses were being used to run factories without the proper licenses, including recycling operations involving hazardous materials.
The inspection, carried out with the Department of Industrial Works, found that the warehouses were being leased to Chinese investors who set up factories without legal approval.
Among the suspects, 59-year-old Indian national Nirach was arrested in one of the warehouses, where he was found operating machinery for sorting plastic materials. Nirach, who reportedly admitted to installing the machinery, confirmed that no factory permits were obtained for the operation.
In addition to the illegal factories, officials discovered dangerous substances, including heavy metals like lead and arsenic, which are classified as hazardous materials under the Industrial Works Department’s regulations.
The authorities also found evidence of hazardous waste storage in five of the warehouses, further violating environmental safety laws. Nirach was charged with operating a factory without permission and for possession of hazardous materials.
Initially, the authorities seized the machinery and hazardous substances and took legal action against the warehouse owner and others involved in the illegal operation.
If not properly managed, hazardous materials such as lead and arsenic pose serious risks of contamination in the environment, which could enter the food chain and harm both humans and animals, according to Chachoengsao authorities.
