Police Raid 10 Warehouses in Rayong Over Illegal E-Waste
Rayong authorities inspected ten locked warehouses in the Nikom Phatthana industrial estate after earlier findings of illegal metal and electronic waste sorting in five other units. The operation, led by the Natural Resources and Environment advisor and supported by multiple agencies, seeks to uncover illegal factories and hazardous waste storage, with further investigation into possible cross-border e-waste imports. Officials say they will gather evidence to prosecute all involved.
Advisor to the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment raided the Nikom Phatthana warehouses, targeting another 10 buildings, expanding the crackdown on illegal factories and electronic waste. On October 16, 2069, Pol. Lt. Gen. Ittiphon Phoethong, advisor to the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, led a special pollution suppression unit under the directive of Minister Satcha Chimonlin, presenting a search warrant to inspect rented warehouses of a company in Moo 1, Nikom Phatthana Subdistrict, Nikom Phatthana District, Rayong Province, to expand the case of operating factories without permission and illegally storing hazardous industrial waste. The operation involved multiple agencies including the Pollution Control Department, Rayong Provincial Industrial Office, TSO Rayong, Police Pollution Suppression Bureau, Nikom Phatthana Police Station, ISOC Rayong, Customs, Immigration, Rayong Provincial Anti-Corruption Office, the Rights Protection Centre, TSO network, and local administration. The area covers about 90 rai with 15 rented warehouse buildings; previously, on October 12, officials had inspected five buildings, finding unauthorized sorting of metal scrap, electrical wires, and electronic equipment parts. The remaining 10 buildings were locked, prompting officers to obtain a court search warrant for further inspection today.
Pol. Lt. Gen. Ittiphon Phoethong said the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment is concerned about public health and lingering pollution in communities, and has ordered the special unit to conduct a thorough crackdown. Preliminary inspections revealed large amounts of electronic equipment fragments and suspicious materials. Officers will expedite inspections of all buildings to gather evidence for prosecuting everyone involved.
Furthermore, investigators will expand their inquiry to transportation routes, material sources, sorting processes, and excess waste disposal systems, coordinating with Customs to check for possible cross‑border electronic waste smuggling. If any wrongdoing is found, they will pursue legal action to the fullest extent of the law.
