Thread: PM urges stringent crackdown on financiers of illegal frozen pork imports

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has ordered relevant agencies to end illegal imports of frozen pork, with an emphasis on major smugglers, noting that crackdowns on small-scale operators will never solve the problem.


Under the Ministry of Agriculture, the Fisheries, Livestock Development and Agriculture departments are directly responsible for the suppression of illegal importation of pork and they have been criticised for not being tough enough, resulting in rampant smuggling of pork, especially earlier this year, when the price of local pork spiked sharply.


The prime minister has expressed concern that the major illegal importers may conceal their assets to escape seizure, if authorities do not take legal action against them fast enough.


The prime minister also said that he will consult Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat about developing measures to help small and medium-sized pig farmers, currently facing rising production costs to the extent that a number of them have closed their businesses. The measures will provide financial support from the Bank of Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives.


Customs officials have recently seized 161 cargo containers, containing illegally imported pork, at Laem Chabang deep-sea port in Chon Buri and charges have been filed against six executives of five companies allegedly involved in the smuggling, according to the Department of the Special Investigation.


The DSI is now in the process of charging three other shipping companies, allegedly hired by a group of financiers to import frozen pork illegally.

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Crackdown on pork crackling

Didn't have to look far

Civil servants linked to smuggled pork racket
25 NOV 2023 AT 07:52

The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has found at least 10 civil servants and politicians were involved in the smuggling of 161 containers of pork worth 460 million baht.

DSI director-general Pol Maj Suriya Singhakamol said during a press briefing at Government House on Friday that over the past five months, the DSI has hunted down many of the associated parties who have been financing and facilitating the smuggling of pork into Thailand, including civil servants and politicians.

The investigation has implicated government officials, leading the DSI to send the case to the Office of National Anti-Corruption Commission to prosecute suspects tied to 161 containers filled with 4,025 tonnes of smuggled pork worth 460 million baht that were imported in 2021-2022.

For another 2,385 containers over the same period, Pol Maj Suriya Singhakamol said police would investigate the suspects while the NACC has seized their assets.

"We will press charges against anyone involved in the [pork smuggling], regardless of their rank. There will be more updates next week. Moreover, the prime minister has approved a full-scale operation," he said.

Pol Maj Suriya said that he could only confirm there are 10 suspects on the list, mostly politicians and incumbent or former civil servants.