The Department of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has issued a warning against accepting or being hired to transport luggage abroad under any circumstances. The department strictly prohibits citizens from accepting parcels or packages from others to carry overseas, whether for payment or at the urging of acquaintances claiming to know the recipient. Such arrangements risk concealing illegal items including prohibited goods, smuggled merchandise, or drugs. Anyone caught transporting such items faces legal responsibility in their own name. Drug possession or trafficking carries severe penalties both in Thailand and internationally, and cannabis—including extracted oils with THC content exceeding 0.2 percent—remains classified as a controlled substance in many countries. The department advises all travelers to manage only their own luggage, firmly refuse requests to carry items for others, and prioritize their safety while traveling.

Police arrested 38-year-old Vunchai on July 1 on a court arrest warrant dated June 10, charging him with theft at a public shrine. The arrest came after an American tourist filed a complaint on February 13, reporting that his iPhone 16 Pro Max was stolen from inside Wat Pho temple on Maharaj Road in Bangkok's Pranakorn District. Investigators reviewed security camera footage to identify the suspect before issuing an arrest warrant and locating him.

During questioning, Vunchai claimed he was formerly a watch seller who became interested in Buddha amulets and visited amulet markets, including Tha Phra Chan Market, to resell items. On the day of the incident, he entered Wat Pho to pray and wait for transportation home to Bang Khae. He claimed he found the phone abandoned at the base of a Buddha statue, took it, and sold it as a used device for 800 baht.

Investigators determined he had committed similar thefts three times at Wat Pho between January and February. In the first incident, he stole a tourist's wallet. In the second incident, he stole a mobile phone. In the third incident, he stole another mobile phone. After the third incident, he attempted to enter the temple again but was pursued by security guards and fled. He has now been taken into police custody for legal proceedings.

Customs officers at Phuket International Airport, working with relevant agencies, arrested two Uzbek nationals after discovering they had concealed dried cannabis flowers and cannabis products in their luggage for unauthorized export on July 1, 2026.

The first suspect, 26-year-old Jalilboyevich from Uzbekistan, was found with dried cannabis buds packed in 30 vacuum-sealed bags weighing 9.8 kilograms total, along with 14 processed cannabis sticks weighing 1.03 kilograms. Officers inspected his luggage on the first floor of the international departure terminal and identified two suspicious bags among his four total pieces of luggage.

The second suspect, 26-year-old Mukiddinnovitch, also from Uzbekistan, was found with 30 dried cannabis flower bundles (9.8 kilograms), 8 bags of cannabis resin (4.1 kilograms), and 5 processed cannabis sticks plus 9 cannabis blocks in one package (2 kilograms total). His luggage was inspected on the third floor of the international departure building.

Both suspects acknowledged ownership of all luggage and consented to searches, with X-ray examinations confirming the contraband. They face charges under the 2017 Customs Act for attempting to export controlled goods without customs clearance, as well as violations of narcotics and controlled botanical substance laws. Both remain in custody pending investigation and legal proceedings.

The Faculty of Dentistry at Prince of Songkla University officially inaugurated the PSU Microscope and Esthetic Dentistry Center (PSU-ME) on June 26, 2025, to enhance specialized dental services with advanced technology, improve diagnostic and treatment precision, and provide Southern Thailand residents with access to quality oral healthcare.

The opening ceremony was attended by Assistant Professor Dr. Niwat Kaewpradab, PSU rector, as well as Associate Professor Dr. Thongchai Thitsomkul, dean of the Faculty of Dentistry, and Associate Professor Dr. Gawlin Thamsitthiboon, PSU-ME director, who welcomed distinguished guests and media representatives.

Developed under the 2568 fiscal year state budget, PSU-ME modernized the conservative dentistry clinic facilities to support comprehensive treatment, teaching, research, and personnel development. The center stands out as the first and largest microscopic dentistry and esthetic treatment facility in Southern Thailand, featuring 21 service units equipped with over 10 dental microscopes that enable dentists to visualize treatment areas more clearly and increase efficiency and precision when addressing complex dental conditions.

Beyond clinical services, PSU-ME serves as a learning hub and capacity-building center for dental professionals, including dental students, dentists, specialists, and oral health personnel, while accommodating domestic and international continuing professional education and study visits.

Assistant Professor Dr. Niwat Kaewpradab stated that establishing PSU-ME represents a significant step in advancing health science excellence and elevating healthcare services in Southern Thailand through investment in modern technology alongside healthcare workforce development to create long-term public benefits.

Associate Professor Dr. Thongchai Thitsomkul noted that PSU-ME was designed as a comprehensive clinical service center, learning hub, and capacity-building facility for dental professionals to support high-quality treatment and prepare the profession for technological changes and evolving oral health needs.

The PSU-ME opening reflects the Faculty of Dentistry and Prince of Songkla University's commitment to introducing modern dental innovations and technology to elevate standards in treatment, education, and research while developing knowledge and personnel to advance Southern Thailand's and the nation's oral health system sustainably.

During the State Visit of Their Majesties the King and Queen of Thailand to the French Republic on 30 June and 1 July 2026, Her Royal Highness Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana Rajakanya presented a s...

Pattaya Low Season Sees Tourist Arrivals Drop 20-30%, Flights Slashed, Hotels Operating at 15% Occupancy

Many Businesses Struggling Under Heavy Cost Pressures

July 1, 2026 — Reporters have documented a severe tourism contraction affecting the Pattaya area and Chachoengsao Province during the low season. Tourist arrivals have declined sharply, the conference and seminar market has largely vanished, and reduced flight schedules are forcing many hotels to operate below break-even occupancy levels.

Thanesh Suprasahastrangsi, chairman of the Chachoengsao Tourism Association, explained that while the post-school closure period (April-May) traditionally draws family tourists to sustain the market, this year shows a significantly steeper decline than normal.

A key factor is the collapse in corporate seminars and government travel, driven by work-from-home policies that many agencies interpret as incompatible with budgeting guidelines. This has eliminated a traditionally vital source of low-season tourism revenue.

Meanwhile, regional short-haul tourism has been hit hard as budget carriers and some commercial airlines progressively reduce or cancel flights due to climbing fuel costs and insufficient booking volumes, further reducing tourist travel.

According to data from the Thai Hotels Association Eastern Region (THAE) and the Chachoengsao Tourism Association, tourist numbers have dropped approximately 20-30 percent, while many hotels are operating at occupancy rates of just 15-20 percent—well below the break-even threshold of 40-50 percent.