Police arrested an entire family involved in smuggling "beer" from a warehouse during the "Hat Yai flood." They claimed they thought the owner had abandoned it and admitted they planned to open a karaoke bar to sell it—some had already gathered to drink with friends.
On 20 Dec 2025 GMT+7, reporters reported that a clip circulated showing a group of villagers removing beer from a warehouse located along the Asia Road near Hat Yai University, Khuan Lang Subdistrict, Hat Yai District, Songkhla. The incident occurred on 27 Nov during flooding in downtown and surrounding areas of Hat Yai. Pickup trucks were used to load the beer fully, leading to a theft case.
The Hat Yai Police investigation team, led by Police Colonel Macha Kaewthong, Chief of Hat Yai Police Station, Deputy Superintendent Chanawin Rattanawin, Superintendent Theerapong Wichit, and the Crime Suppression Division led by Police Lieutenant Thanakarn Uchanarasamee, tracked suspects identified in the video. The Songkhla Provincial Court issued arrest warrants.
One suspect, Mr. Kriangkrai Cheepnurath, who loaded beer onto the pickup truck, was arrested yesterday (19 Dec) at his home in Village 5, Wat Pradu Subdistrict, Mueang District, Surat Thani. He confessed and implicated that the beer was stored at an unnumbered house in Village 7, Thepha Subdistrict, Songkhla, which belongs to his sister-in-law.
Authorities searched the said house and found Ms. Praipaiwan Boontuk, 53, and Mrs. Somjit Krongyut, 80. Upon questioning, they admitted storing the beer taken from the Hat Yai flood at this residence.
The search uncovered 20 packs of large Singha cans, 4 trays of small Singha cans, 31 packs of large Leo cans, 19 trays of small Leo cans, 31 small bottles, and several more in the refrigerator. Confiscated phones showed photos matching the beer taken during the flood and the seized beer at the house.
All three were charged with joint theft during a flood disaster, using a vehicle to facilitate the crime or transport stolen property to evade arrest, or receiving stolen goods.
When questioned, Ms. Praipaiwan stated that on that day, she, her brother-in-law, and mother rode a pickup truck to pick up her daughter in Hat Yai during the flood. They parked in front of the beer warehouse to check the water but saw people loading beer. She helped load it, thinking the owner had abandoned it because everyone was scrambling to take it. They brought it back to their home in Thepha. She was unaware the owner had reported it. They planned to open a karaoke bar with the beer, and some had invited friends to drink at home.
In this case, Mr. Kriangkrai and Ms. Praipaiwan confessed, but Mrs. Somjit, the mother, denied involvement, claiming she only rode along to pick up her grandchild and was not involved in moving the beer.