Minister Suchart has launched a sweeping crackdown on transnational capitalists illegally logging and trading valuable timber after tracing a large shipment, ordering a hunt for the main culprits.
On 2 Sep 2026 GMT+7, Minister Suchart Chomklin of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment stated that the ministry is implementing Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul's policy to aggressively combat illegal activities and exploitative networks targeting the country's natural resources, especially illegal logging and transnational trade of valuable timber. He has ordered all affiliated agencies to strictly enforce the law and extend investigations to all masterminds involved.
This operation follows investigations expanding on illegal logging activities in Uttaradit Province, which uncovered leads connecting to Chiang Rai Province. At 10:00 on the same day, Attapon Charoenchansa, Director-General of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, along with Police Major General Anek Taosupap, Commander of the Forestry Police Division, and Chucheep Pongchai, Governor of Chiang Rai, coordinated with the DSI and local administration to execute a Chiang Rai provincial court search warrant on a warehouse and wood processing factory at Ban Pong Hueng, Huai Sak Subdistrict, Mueang Chiang Rai District, Chiang Rai Province.
The search revealed an unlicensed wood processing factory illegally operating, with hidden logs and processed wood, notably a large quantity of rosewood, alongside equipment and machinery for wood processing. Authorities arrested one individual claiming ownership of the premises on charges of operating an unlicensed wood processing factory. They confiscated processed wood, machinery, and seized all logs for detailed examination of ownership documents and origins.
Minister Suchart emphasized that the MNRE places highest priority on preventing and suppressing forest destruction and will not allow any capital groups to harm the nation's resources. He has ordered an expedited investigation into links with foreign investors and transnational timber trading networks behind the scenes, aiming to bring all offenders to justice under the strictest laws.