Minister Suchart Chomklin of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, acting on the Prime Minister's orders, urgently flew to Phuket to launch an operation targeting mafia groups, reclaiming Freedom Beach and forest reserve lands seized illegally, with damages exceeding 3 billion baht in value. Tags: [government operation, Phuket, mafia crackdown, Freedom Beach, forest reserve, environmental crime]
On 7 Nov 2026 GMT+7, Minister Suchart Chomklin of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment stated that he had received urgent instructions from Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul to immediately travel to Phuket. His mission was to oversee and supervise legal actions against influential figures and offenders involved in encroaching and exploiting national forest reserve areas, especially Freedom Beach. The government has designated this as a key task to reclaim forest and public land for the people, emphasizing strict law enforcement without exceptions.Tags: [Suchart Chomklin, Prime Minister's orders, Phuket, forest reserve, law enforcement, public land]
Looking back to 13 May 2026 GMT+7, the Prime Minister visited Freedom Beach and issued clear orders to swiftly resolve issues involving mafia groups and influential figures who had occupied over 70 rai of beachfront land. The damage caused was valued at over 3 billion baht. The Prime Minister declared a firm stance that:Tags: [Prime Minister, Freedom Beach, land occupation, mafia, government directive, damage estimate] "Freedom Beach must be reclaimed from mafia groups and influential figures because the meaning of 'Freedom' is liberty beach. It must belong to the people, accessible for public use without anyone holding a concession. It is not the beach of any influential person or individual," the Prime Minister stated.Tags: [Prime Minister quote, Freedom Beach, public access, anti-mafia stance] This directive represents the government's determined commitment to achieving tangible results.Tags: [government commitment, policy implementation, public land restoration]
Minister Suchart added that today he traveled to Kathu Police Station in Phuket to monitor progress in the case and the arrest of key suspects. Accompanying him were Phuket Governor Chotirat Kerdsom, Police Major General Anek Taosupap, Commander of the Forest Crime Suppression Division, and Deputy Director-General of the Forestry Department Phatthapong Samittiphat. They were joined by the Central Investigation Bureau under the leadership of Police Lieutenant General Natsak Chaonasis and Police Major General Pattanasak Bupphasuwan, Commander of the Crime Suppression Division. Orders were given to five commanders from the Crime Suppression Division to investigate and arrest Pritorn Ruangrattanawanich, aka “Sia Lek,” and three others under warrants issued by the Criminal Court on charges of conspiracy to defraud the public and introducing false information into a computer system.Tags: [Suchart Chomklin, Kathu Police, arrests, Pritorn Ruangrattanawanich, fraud charges, law enforcement cooperation]
Regarding the case details, the suspects are accused of fraudulently selling land in the Nakkerd Mountain National Forest Reserve by falsely claiming the land had legal ownership documents. This deceived the public into transferring money, causing financial harm to victims. Simultaneously, this represented illegal exploitation of the country's forest resources.Tags: [fraud case, forest reserve land, false ownership claims, public deception, natural resource exploitation]
Minister Suchart emphasized that the government will continue to seriously address influential groups occupying or exploiting national resources, especially forest reserves and public lands, which belong to the community and are not for personal or corporate gain. He affirmed close monitoring of legal proceedings with strict, transparent enforcement without exceptions, aiming to restore Freedom Beach as a place of liberty accessible equally to all, in line with the Prime Minister's intent.Tags: [government stance, resource protection, law enforcement, transparency, public access, Freedom Beach restoration]