Mukdahan Crackdown Seizes 1,455 Payung Logs in Cross-Border Smuggling Bust
Thai authorities seized 1,455 Payung wood logs in an expanded crackdown on cross-border timber smuggling in Mukdahan province. The operation, ordered by Natural Resources Minister Surachat Chomklin, led to one arrest, multiple vehicle seizures, and the discovery of hidden stockpiles at four locations. Investigations are now targeting the broader trafficking network and financial backers behind the illegal trade.
Natural Resources and Environment Minister Surachat Chomklin ordered an expanded crackdown on cross-border Payung wood trafficking in Mukdahan province, with continuous inspections seizing an additional 1,455 logs while investigators trace the source. On November 6, 2026, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment intensified measures to prevent and suppress forest resource violations, following Minister Surachat's policy to elevate law enforcement from seizures and arrests toward expanded investigations targeting offender networks, buyers, and financial backers. Forest Department Director-General Nika Sirorojanant ordered the Special Forest Operations Unit, Forest Resource Management Office 7 (Khon Kaen), to integrate forces with the Mukdahan and Kalasin Special Forest Operations Units and Mueang Mukdahan police to launch the "Prevention and Suppression of Cross-Border Payung Wood Trafficking" operation in Bang Sai Yai subdistrict, Mueang Mukdahan district, Mukdahan province. On November 2, officials inspected a company yard in Bang Sai Yai, arresting one suspect, Chatree, and seizing two ten-wheel trucks fully loaded with Payung logs and processed wood. The seized timber totaled 358 logs/planks/squares with a combined volume of 18.503 cubic meters, valued at over 8.99 million baht in state damages. The suspect and evidence were handed to Mueang Mukdahan police investigators for legal action, with orders to urgently expand the investigation to trace hidden wood sources and additional involved parties. On November 3, acting on expanded investigation leads, officers executed four Mukdahan Provincial Court search warrants at suspected wood storage sites in Bang Sai Yai. Searches uncovered 525 Payung logs hidden at a residence belonging to Jiraphat and another 930 logs inside a warehouse at Ban Nong Ok, totaling 1,455 logs. Officers also seized a six-wheel truck with 18 additional Payung logs on the Kok Sung-Phon Sai Road, Highway 239. All evidence was transferred to Mueang Mukdahan police for legal proceedings. Minister Surachat emphasized that the Forest Department must continuously prevent and suppress valuable timber smuggling, prioritizing expanded investigations reaching entire networks beyond local offenders, while coordinating with the Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Suppression Division and security agencies to pursue financial backers and connected parties to the fullest extent of the law. The Ministry, through the Forest Department, will continue integrating cooperation across all sectors to genuinely protect national forest resources, block valuable timber smuggling, and sever networks damaging natural resources, while affirming fair, transparent, and continuous legal enforcement to preserve forests as national heritage for future generations.
