Illegal gold mining by Gray Thai in a protected forest area in Loei Province raises public questions about whether government officials are aware or complicit.
Nature takes hundreds of years to form mountains, but some humans destroy them in just a few days, leaving scars on the forest that can never be restored.
Following last week’s report from Tha Li District, Loei Province, where signs of illegal gold mining in a protected forest were found, the team received information about another site where officials
After detecting traces of illegal gold mining in a protected forest, the team learned of another location where authorities apprehended the group on 17 Feb 2026 in Khok Phad Dam Reserved Forest, Na Duang District, Loei Province.
Six offenders were arrested along with evidence including a backhoe, tractor, pickup truck, motorcycle, generator, gas tanks, and air tanks. The team proceeded to investigate the site.
The damage seen is unbelievable. According to local administrative officers, the criminals spent less than a month mining, using vehicles and drilling in a stepped manner. Given the scale, they likely expected to find gold ore in the soil.
Is this real? Achieving this damage in just one month? While surveying nearby areas, the team found several items believed to be used by the group for cooking and temporary shelter during their illegal mining operation in the forest.
These included sticky rice containers, fish sauce, and fermented fish – clear evidence of activity during the crime. As for the six suspects,
four were granted bail, while two were denied bail due to existing drug-related charges.
Officials determined the arrests fall under violations of the Forest Act of 1941 (B.E. 2484), and if the extracted minerals are found to be valuable, additional charges may be filed.
The illegal mining operations scattered across Loei Province have led many citizens to wonder whether some government officials are involved in aiding or profiting from these activities under the table.
The images of cracked earth and abandoned machinery stand as “evidence of defeat” against the greed of certain individuals.
Is it time for the government to answer society’s questions honestly about how to break this cycle of damage? Will there be proactive measures beyond seizing equipment after the forest has already been destroyed?
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