Tracked by Mobile Phone: Arrest Made for Illegal Road Construction in Mae Yom Forest

On February 20, 2024, authorities arrested three suspects for illegally constructing a road through protected wildlife areas in Mae Yom and Salween. Chaicharoen Sriyong, director of Conservation Area Management Region 16, coordinated with local police to seize a farm tractor and excavator used in the illegal road construction. The road spans 6.6 kilometers in the Mae Yom Wildlife Preservation Area and 1.2 kilometers in the Salween Wildlife Preservation Area. Evidence was traced through the mobile phone of the farm tractor owner. The three suspects were arrested at different locations: one tractor driver was caught near Ban Huay Kai Pa Village, an excavator driver was apprehended in Muang Pon Subdistrict, and the third suspect was also taken into custody. All suspects and seized vehicles were handed over to Mae La Luang Police Station for further legal proceedings.