YouTube-trained ‘dentist’ among five arrested in medical crackdown near BangkokLegacyFive people accused of providing dental or medical services without licences have been arrested across Bangkok, Samut Sakhon and Samut Prakan, with police seizing more than 1,000 items of medical and dental equipment. The Central Investigation Bureau’s (CIB) Consumer Protection Police Division (CPPD) carried out searches at five locations yesterday, August 20, with Samut Sakhon public health officials and other agencies. Four people were arrested over alleged unlicensed dental work, while a fifth was accused of practising medicine without a licence. Photo via CIB Officers seized 56 types of materials, dental tools, medical equipment and unregistered medicines, totalling more than 1,058 items and valued at more than 330,000 baht. Police said some of the dental services were being offered from converted homes and roadside premises, including dentures, retainers and fashion braces. In Krathum Baen district, Samut Sakhon, officers found a 30 year old woman allegedly fitting fashion braces to a customer using a mouth retractor and dental etching solution. The woman reportedly admitted learning the procedures herself through YouTube and practising on her own teeth before advertising services on social media. She told officers she earned more than 15,000 baht a month. Photo via Consumer Protection Nearby, police found a 61 year old man who had worked in a dental laboratory around 30 years ago. He allegedly used that experience to take dental impressions and make dentures from his home, accepting work from both locals and healthcare facilities. He reportedly earned between 40,000 and 50,000 baht a month. Photo via CIB A 44 year old woman who previously worked as a dental technician for a private company was also accused of operating from her home, taking dental impressions and making retainers. She reportedly charged almost 10,000 baht per course. Photo via CIB In Bangkok’s Bang Khen district, officers arrested a 56 year old woman while she was allegedly making and repairing dentures for a customer at a roadside dental shop. More than 500 resin dentures and pieces of dental equipment were seized. The woman said she previously worked in a dental laboratory and had operated the roadside business for more than five years, serving around four to five customers a day. Photo via CIB The fifth arrest took place at a beauty clinic in Bang Phli district, Samut Prakan, where officers found a 26 year old woman administering an intravenous vitamin drip to a customer without a doctor supervising the clinic. The woman holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing, but police accused her of practising medicine without a licence. Officers also seized vitamin drip equipment and a quantity of unregistered medicines. Photo via CIB All five were charged with providing medical or dental services without the required licences and were transferred to investigators for legal proceedings. They were transferred to CPPD investigators for further legal proceedings. The four people accused of providing unlicensed dental services admitted the charges, according to police. Related news

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At Bangkok City Hall on August 21, Governor Chadchart Sittipunt chaired the third meeting of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration Strategic Development Committee, with senior city officials in attendance. The committee reviewed the draft 20-year Bangkok development plan for the fourth phase (2028–2032), prepared by Thammasat University's research and consulting institute, and approved a revised city vision statement. The vision shifts from "Bangkok, a livable city for everyone" to "Bangkok, a city that creates opportunities and hope for all," positioning the city for greater challenges and progress.

Chadchart explained that the updated vision and development strategies now encompass broader and clearer working dimensions. The original "livable city" concept emphasized residents' quality of life, but review revealed that cities need two driving forces working together: people and business. Cities function as labor markets and economic systems that generate income to circulate and improve residents' quality of life. The development strategy therefore combines economic opportunity creation with productivity and quality of life improvements, giving people hope. A livable city alone may not be enough; it must also attract talented individuals through business opportunities.

The fourth-phase strategy framework rests on three pillars: the 20-year national strategy framework, the draft 14th national economic and social development plan, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Implementation proceeds through nine core strategies: (1) Good Transportation—convenient, safe, seamless, and accessible systems friendly to the environment; (2) Good Safety—building a resilient city with disaster and emergency preparedness; (3) Good Transparency—reducing corruption through preventive mechanisms, strong governance, and integrity assessments at all levels; (4) Good Environment—pursuing low-carbon status, climate resilience, and integrated waste, wastewater, air, and energy management to reduce pollution and environmental risk; (5) Good Health—prioritizing primary healthcare services enhanced with digital technology for seamless patient care in a "high-tech, high-touch" model; (6) Good Education—advancing lifelong learning for all ages through digital curricula addressing life and job skills, supported by teacher and student development; (7) Good Economy—positioning Bangkok as a gateway to ASEAN through creative business, high-value services, and health economics, creating premium urban experiences and investment; (8) Good Society—building fairness and harmony, raising quality of life and welfare especially for vulnerable groups; and (9) Good Management—elevating organizational performance through data-driven operations centered on public outcomes.

The committee also approved revisions to Bangkok's integrated annual action plan for 2028, shifting from "developing a disaster command center and linking emergency data systems" to "developing block-by-block infrastructure aligned with local context," emphasizing area design and development responsive to community needs.

On August 21 at Mae Aiy District in Chiang Mai, Natthapon Ruengpanyadwit, a party-list Member of Parliament and leader of the opposition Democratic Party, led a delegation to inspect frontline operations and hear briefings on drug trafficking along the Thai-Myanmar border.

The afternoon visit began with inspections and morale-boosting at drug checkpoint and interception points in Mae Aiy, followed by coordination meetings with security and relevant government agencies. At 2 p.m., the delegation visited Ban Pa Kui village in Ta Ton Subdistrict, Mae Aiy District, to observe conditions along the actual border and hear updates on illegal cross-border smuggling routes.

Colonel Kitti Najai, commander of the Third Army Region Border Ranger Control Force, outlined the service's three-pronged approach to narcotics interdiction: first, intelligence sharing with partner agencies outside Thailand; second, ranger patrols and surveillance along border areas under their responsibility; and third, coordinated operations with all relevant agencies in interior border areas, including checkpoint operations, search cordons, and logistics interdiction.

Kitti explained that the unit's territory spans both land and water borders, including the Sai and Ruak rivers and the Mekong River facing Laos, as well as mountainous terrain inland from Wiangkaen District. Smugglers exploit natural passages and dry-season river crossings. During high water season, they use boats from neighboring countries to dock at private landing points before handing the contraband to distribution networks.

Colonel Maitri Srisant, deputy commander of the ranger force, recounted a recent confrontation with a drug trafficking gang in which forces seized 300 kilograms of methamphetamine—a Category 1 narcotic—and forwarded the case to Mae Aiy Police for prosecution.

When asked whether the area was formerly under a major trafficker's control and what has changed over the past decade, Maitri reported that while traffickers still operate from Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai border zones, smuggling routes have shifted in recent years.

Khlong Tan police have clarified details of a traffic enforcement incident that drew online backlash after a video showed confrontation between officers and the companion of a motorcycle rider. On August 21, police interviewed two content creators whose channels posted footage of the encounter.

According to Sergeant Panyaphat Aseepai, owner of the Super Bee channel, the incident occurred around midday in Sukhumvit Soi 71 area, a location with frequent complaints about loud motorcycles. Police spotted a rider operating a motorcycle with an illegally modified exhaust system. During a routine traffic check, officers found two violations: the rider had no valid license and was operating a vehicle with an unlawfully loud exhaust.

The rider cooperated with police and agreed to have his motorcycle impounded temporarily. However, the situation escalated when a companion, who is LGBTQ+, arrived and objected to the seizure, demanding only a fine instead. Despite the rider's attempts to calm the companion, the situation became heated, with verbal confrontation and challenges to the officers captured in the video.

Police suggested the tension may have stemmed from accumulated stress, as the rider had been arrested on firearms charges just two to three days earlier and had recently posted bail. Sergeant Rathee Kulsiridtchapong acknowledged the companion's behavior could constitute disrespect toward officials but decided against further charges to prevent escalation, understanding the person was emotionally distressed.

Eventually, a nearby noodle vendor helped de-escalate the situation. The rider later returned to the station with the original exhaust component, corrected the noise level to legal standards, paid the fine, and had a licensed friend collect the motorcycle.

Both officers appealed to the public to approach police interactions with reason and courtesy, noting that emotional responses or disrespectful language can turn minor traffic violations into criminal cases. They stressed their commitment to performing duties with composure and respect for the public.

Thailand football vice president Charnwit Pholchivin has questioned the use of Brazilian-born players in Vietnam's national team ahead of the 2026 ASEAN Cup final, describing the squad as "Vietnam Plus."

Charnwit, known as "Ajarn Rang," said Thailand would not be intimidated by Vietnam but raised questions about the direction of national team building in Southeast Asian football.

"We have to ask where the pride is, because this is a football tournament in ASEAN," Charnwit said, referring to Vietnam's squad and the presence of players of Brazilian heritage.

The comments came ahead of a two-leg final between Thailand and Vietnam. Thailand will host the first leg at Rajamangala Stadium on 22 August before the second leg at My Dinh Stadium in Vietnam on 26 August.

Charnwit said Thailand's chances would depend largely on the planning and player selection of head coach Anthony Hudson. While Thailand's squad is not at full strength, with several key players unavailable, he said the coach would likely select the strongest team available.

He described Vietnam's current squad as different from the team Thailand has traditionally faced, calling it "Vietnam Plus, plus Brazil."

Charnwit also pointed to different approaches to national team development across the region, mentioning Singapore's limited resources and the cases of Malaysia and Vietnam as issues that ASEAN football fans could debate.

He stressed, however, that Thailand had no intention of interfering in other countries' decisions.

"We do not interfere. We are ready to play against every team that comes into ASEAN," he said.

The two-leg final will put the focus not only on the rivalry between Thailand and Vietnam, but also on broader debates over how Southeast Asian national teams build their squads and maintain a sense of football identity.