Minister Orders Crackdown on Illegal Payung Timber Smuggling Ring
A joint task force seized two trucks carrying suspected illegal Payung timber and arrested two suspects in Mukdahan, launching
Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suchat Chomklin received a report from National Parks Department Director-General Yuttana Nakwiroj and Forestry Department Director-General Nikorn Sirawat about intelligence regarding the illegal transport of Payung timber in Mukdahan province. He ordered relevant agencies to plan a joint operation with police to arrest those involved and expand the investigation to the entire network.
The special task force — comprising the Region 9 Protected Area Administration Office, the Forest Fire Control and Suppression Division, the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), the Natural Resources and Environment Crime Suppression Division, Mukdahan City Police, Forest Resource Management Office 7 (Khon Kaen), and the Mukdahan Provincial Natural Resources and Environment Office — conducted inspections at two locations in Mueang Mukdahan district at 11:30 a.m. on November 2, 2026. These were a warehouse in front of Matichon Yotha Co. Ltd. on Highway 3019 in Bang Sai Yai subdistrict, and an unnamed rubber shop on Highway 3019 in Mukdahan subdistrict.
The operation seized two trucks used to transport the suspected timber and arrested two suspects. The wood is preliminarily identified as Payung timber. Officials are currently counting and measuring the exact volume for the seizure record and legal proceedings.
Initial questioning revealed the transporters claimed the wood came from Khamcha-i district in Maha Sarakham province. Officials are seeking court warrants to search the suspected collection points to trace the supply chain, transport routes, and those behind the network.
Minister Suchat emphasized that the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment will seriously suppress illegal logging and valuable timber trading networks. He ordered all agencies to integrate operations and share intelligence closely, rapidly expanding investigations to reach the commanders, financiers, and entire networks — not just the transporters — and to prosecute cases to the fullest extent to prevent these networks from further damaging the country's forest resources.
