Japan-bound courier finds, reports hidden meth haulLegacyPolice seized about 2.059 kilogrammes of methamphetamine concealed inside six tamarind paste jars after a shopping courier transporting goods from Thailand to Japan reported finding suspicious objects hidden inside one of the jars while preparing a shipment, police said yesterday, July 16. The 43 year old woman, who works as a courier transporting goods for 450 baht per kilogramme, told Bang Yi Khan police that she was contacted on July 3 by a Facebook account using the name “Chayamin Pai.” The account asked her to deliver a package from Thailand to Japan. The following day, July 4, the Facebook user arranged for a rider to deliver the parcel to her condominium in Bangkok Noi district, Bangkok. She returned to the condominium on July 6 to prepare for her trip to Japan. Photo via MGR Online On July 7, the shopping courier unpacked the shipment before placing it in her luggage. The parcel contained six 1.5 kilogramme jars of tamarind paste, along with instant noodles, sweets, jelly, dried coconut, snacks, seasonings, peanut butter and herbal inhalers. The total weight of the shipment was about 10 kilogrammes. While checking the contents, she noticed the tamarind paste jars were unusually heavy. After opening one, she found tamarind paste covering the top, but when she reached further inside, she discovered a clear plastic bag containing a white solid object. Suspecting something was wrong, she returned the bag to the jar, repacked all of the items in the cardboard box and placed it back beneath the condominium where it had originally been left. She then travelled to Japan as scheduled. Photo via MGR Online After returning to Thailand on July 11, she reported her discovery to Bang Yi Khan police on July 13, asking officers to inspect the package. Police inspected the parcel and found suspected Category 1 narcotics concealed beneath the tamarind paste in all six jars, with a combined weight of about 2.059 kilogrammes. A preliminary field test returned a positive result for methamphetamine. MGR Online reported that the seized evidence has been sent to the Office of Police Forensic Science for further analysis. Police are continuing to investigate the origin of the drugs and identify those responsible. The story Japan-bound courier finds, reports hidden meth haul as seen on Thaiger News.

BANGKOK: The Ministry of Tourism and Sports is planning to propose three tourism stimulus projects worth B2.45 billion, aiming to generate B56bn in economic value through a domestic travel co-payment scheme, domestic flight discounts and international flight subsidies.

A large-scale operation targeting a foreign nominee business network was launched at 6:30 a.m. on July 17, 2025 at Huai Yai Police Station in Bang Lamung District, Chonburi Province. National Police Commander Pol. Gen. Nopsilp Poolsawasdi and Chonburi Governor Narit Niramaiwongse jointly oversaw the operation, which involved coordinated efforts from the Royal Thai Police special task force, Border Patrol Police, provincial administration, commerce, and land offices to examine companies and real estate projects suspected of using Thai nationals as nominee shareholders for foreign investors to evade Thai business and land ownership restrictions.

This operation marks the fourth phase of an ongoing nationwide investigation, following previous operations in Surat Thani (Koh Phangan), Phuket, Krabi, and Phang Nga. In the first three phases, authorities identified approximately 130 rai of land linked to nominee entities worth over 1.671 billion baht and executed more than 100 arrest warrants against both Thai and foreign suspects.

In Chonburi, authorities targeted 33 companies linked to 32 properties with suspected nominee ownership valued at approximately 235 million baht. The operation included 4 arrest warrants and 41 search warrants. One focus area was a residential development project in Pattaya under investigation for suspected foreign land ownership violations. Governor Narit emphasized that combating nominee companies and foreign land ownership is a key government priority requiring inter-agency cooperation, including deep investigation into shareholder structures and financial trails to close legal loopholes. Officers were deployed simultaneously to search target locations, gather evidence, examine shareholding structures and financial transactions, and verify land ownership rights, with any violations to be prosecuted under Thai law and land potentially subject to forfeiture or sale as prescribed by law.

The Thai government has upgraded its ThaiWater platform to provide real-time water data and prevent crises before they occur, integrating comprehensive information on rainfall, dam levels, high-risk areas, and air quality. Deputy Spokesperson Pattadarasmi Thongsalueykorn announced on July 17 that the government has shifted from reactive disaster management to proactive prevention by developing the new ThaiWater version, designed to serve users from the general public to experts. The platform currently connects data from 56 agencies under 13 ministries and one independent organization, ensuring that the country's water management operates on unified data standards and eliminates conflicting information during emergencies.

The new ThaiWater version features an interactive map that consolidates critical data on a single screen, including rainfall radar, precipitation levels, water levels, dam conditions, monitored areas, and PM2.5 readings. It also includes an improved alert system with advance warnings for specific locations, enabling residents and local officials to prepare for various scenarios. The platform is available free to the public through www.thaiwater.net and the ThaiWater mobile application on both iOS and Android devices.

Beyond the main ThaiWater platform, the government has integrated provincial water data centers covering all 76 provinces to help governors and local agencies analyze disaster risks based on local conditions. This reduces redundant command procedures and accelerates decision-making for evacuation and emergency assistance, with province-specific access available through URLs such as phrae.thaiwater.net, chiangrai.thaiwater.net, and nan.thaiwater.net.

Gold prices fell sharply on July 17, 2025, according to the Thai Gold Traders Association. Ornamental gold (96.5%) dropped 600 baht per baht-weight to a selling price of 64,300 baht, down from the previous day's close on July 16. The association released the updated pricing at 9:01 a.m. Gold bars are trading at 63,300 baht per baht-weight for buying and 63,500 baht for selling, while ornamental gold (96.5%) trades at 62,034.72 baht for buying and 64,300 baht for selling. The global gold spot price stands at 3,987.00 U.S. dollars per ounce. Gold traders predict the market may rebound by 1,000 to 2,000 baht per baht-weight tomorrow, potentially reaching 80,000 baht.

Environment Minister Suchat Chomklin has announced that the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment is strictly enforcing laws against those who encroach on state resources, particularly in national reserved forests. The Forestry Department has been tasked with conducting investigations, making arrests, and prosecuting offenders without any exceptions in order to prevent forest encroachment and protect the country's natural resources.

On July 14, 2026, the Phuket Forest Center, working with provincial authorities, Muang Phuket District officials, and two forest protection units, inspected the Naka Ridge National Reserved Forest in Karon Subdistrict. The inspection discovered three suspects—Thawathai Phaet-khim, Anuphon Sawasdi, and Manoch Thongtham—who were constructing metal-frame structures with metal sheet roofing inside the protected forest. A fourth individual, Thappasan Panmanee, later identified himself as the employer and land owner, admitting he possessed no legal documentation. Officers immediately arrested the suspects.

The inspection found that approximately 1 rai, 3 ngan, and 22 square wah of forest had been cleared and encroached upon. Authorities seized equipment including metal cutters, concrete drills, welding machines, and chainsaws. The suspects were charged under the National Reserved Forest Act of 1964 and the Forestry Act of 1927 for occupying, clearing, constructing, and utilizing reserved forest land without permission. The suspects were handed over to Karon Police Station for further legal proceedings. The Forest Resource Management Office No. 12 (Krabi Branch) was instructed to assess environmental damage, and the authorities will seek a court order to demolish the illegal structures.

"I affirm that the Ministry will not tolerate any forest encroachment for personal gain," Suchat stated. "All offenders must face justice, and we will work seriously to reclaim the forest and preserve natural resources as a legacy for all Thai people and future generations."