Officials Seize Over 5 Tons of Smuggled Pork
Authorities seized 5.3 tons of smuggled pork skin valued at 480,000 baht from a Chiang Mai cold storage facility, part of a crackdown on illegal agricultural imports that could spread disease and harm local farmers.
The Phra Phirun Task Force conducted a strict cold storage inspection and seized suspicious pork skin without proper legal transportation documents, weighing 5.3 tons and valued at approximately 480,000 baht. Agriculture Minister Suriya Chungrungreung assigned Sarawut Neungjamnong, secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives and commander of the Phra Phirun Task Force, to accelerate enforcement against all forms of illegal agricultural imports, with orders for related agencies to apply laws strictly and continuously.
The crackdown aims to block illegal movement and importation of agricultural products, especially livestock that could spread animal diseases, threaten food safety, and harm Thai livestock farmers. The Department of Livestock has been instructed to conduct serious inspections and law enforcement throughout the country.
On July 1, 2026, the Phra Phirun Task Force, including livestock rangers and Chiang Mai livestock officials, inspected a cold storage facility in Chiang Mai that stores livestock and fishery products. They found 5,347.4 kilograms of pork skin valued at approximately 481,266 baht—3,724.8 kilograms in storage for clients and 1,622.6 kilograms belonging to the company. The pork skin was suspected of lacking permits or transportation documents under the Animal Disease Control Act of 2015.
Officials seized all the pork and gave the operator and owners 15 business days to provide documentation. Failure to do so will result in strict legal action. The Chiang Mai Animal Quarantine Station filed a daily record at Mae Ping Police Station for further legal proceedings.
Sarawut stated that the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives and Department of Livestock will strictly and continuously enforce laws to prevent illegal livestock movement, build consumer confidence in food safety, and protect Thai farmers' interests. The ministry requested public cooperation in reporting violations through the DLD 4.0 application available 24/7.
