In Mae Hong Son, officials intervened to suppress forest fires within the Mae Yuam Left Bank National Reserved Forest and were astonished to find 28 fresh processed teak planks hidden in bamboo clumps. The wood appeared new and fresh, suspected to have been ordered and awaiting transport to investors.
On 9 April 2026, Mr. Somjin Netpradit, Director of the Forest Protection and Fire Control Division at Forest Resource Management Office 1, Mae Hong Son Branch, revealed that on the afternoon of 8 April 2026, satellite data from Suomi NPP (VIIRS system) detected 37 hotspots. He ordered officers from Forest Protection Unit MS.5 (Mae Sariang) to investigate these hotspots. They joined forces with Mae Sariang National Park officials to inspect coordinates within the Mae Yuam Left Bank National Reserved Forest to help suppress forest fires near Ban Rai, Village No. 5, Mae Sariang Subdistrict, Mae Sariang District, Mae Hong Son Province.
While conducting forest fire suppression operations, officials detected additional violations involving illegal logging and processing of teak wood in the area. They immediately proceeded to inspect and seize evidence: 28 rectangular processed teak planks totaling 1.02 cubic meters. The wood was still new and fresh, hidden in bamboo clumps lying flat on the ground, with stumps showing cutting marks and not yet burned by the forest fire. Based on the processing style, the wood was suspected to have been ordered and was awaiting transport to investors.
Initially, officials moved all seized evidence to be stored at Forest Protection Unit MS.5 (Mae Sariang), documenting the seizure and gathering evidence. The items were handed over to investigators at Mae Sariang Police Station, Mae Hong Son Province, to proceed with legal action and further pursue the offenders.