An 18-year-old was arrested at a Phuket police checkpoint in Ratsada with a modified firearm and bullets in his possession.
PHUKET: An 18-year-old man was arrested with a firearm and ammunition after being stopped at a police checkpoint in Ratsada early yesterday morning (May 14).
A 41-year-old attempted murder suspect died by apparent suicide in a Thalang Police Station cell on May 14, authorities said.
PHUKET: A 41-year-old man being held on attempted murder charges was found dead after apparently hanging himself inside a detention cell at Thalang Police Station yesterday (May 14).
A Chinese tourist has been permanently banned from Thailand and ordered to pay 450,000 baht after kicking and damaging an automated gate at Suvarnabhumi Airport on May 13, then verbally abusing immigration officers who tried to detain him.
A Chinese man has been blacklisted and permanently banned from entering Thailand following an incident at Suvarnabhumi Airport where he kicked and damaged an Automated Border Control gate, then verbally abused immigration officers. On May 13, 2025, at approximately 2:00 PM, Li Wei Zeng, a 30-year-old Chinese national, was processing through the automated passport control gate in the departure area. When he failed to follow the correct procedure and placed his boarding pass incorrectly on the document reader, the machine malfunctioned and the first door did not open.
Frustrated, Li Wei Zeng kicked the transparent glass door of the machine, damaging it. He then attempted again, incorrectly placing his passport, and when the machine failed to operate, he kicked the door a second time and forced his way through without completing the inspection process. When immigration officers attempted to detain him, he verbally abused them in Chinese and English using obscene language and tried to physically assault them, though his wife intervened to prevent further escalation.
Immigration officers and airport security personnel took Li Wei Zeng into custody and transferred him to Suvarnabhumi Airport Police Station. He faces charges of property damage, carrying a penalty of up to 3 years imprisonment, a fine not exceeding 60,000 baht, or both. He is also required to pay 450,000 baht in damages for the automated passport control gate.
Additionally, he faces charges of insulting a civil servant in the performance of duty, which carries a maximum penalty of 1 year imprisonment, a 20,000 baht fine, or both. Investigators will file the case with Samut Prakan Provincial Court on May 15.
Based on this incident, the Airport Authority of Thailand's director ordered the revocation of Li Wei Zeng's visa and his addition to the immigration blacklist as a person posing a threat to society, with a lifetime ban from entering Thailand. Upon completion of legal proceedings, he will be deported. Immigration authorities also issued a warning to foreign tourists, emphasizing that while Thailand welcomes visitors from all nations who respect Thai people and the country, any misconduct—whether criminal or moral—will result in visa revocation and immediate deportation without exception.
Thai Navy conducts TR.69 training exercises in the Gulf of Thailand, testing UAV operations and amphibious assault capabilities to counter eastern border threats and enhance maritime security readiness.
On May 14, 2026, Admiral Piromsak Fuengchanthana, the Navy Commander, inspected training exercises involving unmanned aerial vehicle support operations for naval forces in the upper Gulf of Thailand and swift amphibious assault training at Navy Training Ground No. 15 in Haad Yao, Sattahip District, Chachoengsao Province. These exercises are part of the annual field and sea training (FTX) for the Thai Navy in 2026.
The training aimed to test the readiness of personnel, weapons systems, and tactical operational support capabilities during both daytime and nighttime operations, improving real-world operational capability to address various security situations and threats, particularly through the application of modern technology aligned with the changing security environment.
The unmanned aerial vehicle support training tested coordination between naval forces, special operations units, and UAV systems to enhance surveillance efficiency, targeting, and tactical operational support for the navy during both day and night operations. The exercise integrated naval ships, aircraft, and ground-based operational units in a network-based joint operational framework.
The amphibious assault training at Navy Training Ground No. 15 tested naval deployment plans and capabilities of naval commando units, including the testing of forces and weapons systems in real operational areas. The exercise integrated support naval forces, special operations units, beach assault teams, amphibious vehicles, and naval aviation under new air defense security measures, along with medical support and casualty evacuation based on simulated scenarios.
Admiral Piromsak revealed that the "TR.69" exercise aimed to enhance combat readiness and address security situations, particularly in the eastern border areas and strategic maritime zones, critical missions for protecting national sovereignty and maritime interests. The training, which began in early 2026, incorporated lessons learned from actual conflict situations in 2025, with analysis and improvements to operational approaches aligned with changing security environments, covering both forced-problem training, specialized training, and joint force integration among Thai military combat units.
The Navy also tested the application of unmanned systems (UXV) including unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), unmanned surface vessels (USV), and unmanned underwater systems (UUV) for patrol, intelligence, surveillance, and tactical operational support missions. The Navy tested the concept of using HTMS Chakri Naruebet as an operational base for UXV systems to support future maritime operations.
The annual Navy training exercise represents the highest priority training for the Thai Navy, implemented in accordance with the policy of "Year of Naval Combat Readiness" under the concept of "Train as if in real battle; when battle is real, we must win." The training focused on military planning, tactical command, integration of all-dimensional combat forces, and testing combat readiness across all operational branches to ensure effective application in real missions with maritime security not limited to military dimensions alone.
Thalang District police arrested a drug dealer and multiple users, seizing 200 methamphetamine pills and recording 17 positive drug tests during raids in Srisoonthorn and Mai Khao.
PHUKET: A major anti-drug operation led by Thalang District officials resulted in multiple arrests, 17 failed drug tests and the seizure of 200 methamphetamine pills (ya bah) during raids in Srisoonthorn and Mai Khao earlier this week.
Officials have one week to restore public access to Nui Beach in Phuket after the Natural Resources Minister ordered the removal of barriers blocking the shoreline and banned entrance fees.
PHUKET: Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Suchart Chomklin has ordered officials to reclaim public land at Nui Beach within one week, declaring that no person or group has the right to block access to the beach or charge entrance fees.
Thailand's third-ranked mixed doubles pair Bass and Fame defeated compatriots M and Mook 21-14, 21-7 at the Toyota Thailand Open to secure a semifinal berth against Chinese Taipei's Ye Hongwei and Nicole Gonzalez Chan.
At the Toyota Thailand Open 2026, a World Tour Super 500 badminton tournament held at Nimibutr Sports Building on May 14, 2026, Thailand's third-ranked mixed doubles pair Bass (Dechapol Puavaranukroh) and Fame (Supissara Peavsumpran) faced off against fellow nationals M (Supak Jomkoh) and Mook (Ornichcha Jongsathapornpun), ranked 66th in the world. Bass-Fame dominated the match, winning decisively 21-14, 21-7 in straight sets to advance to the semifinals, where they will face Chinese Taipei's Ye Hongwei and Nicole Gonzalez Chan, ranked 10th in the world.
A 40-year-old roofer in Lampang was electrocuted and fell from a shelter roof after zinc sheeting he was carrying contacted high-voltage power lines on May 14. He was hospitalized with multiple injuries but survived the accident.
A shocking incident occurred when a roofer was electrocuted and fell while repairing the roof of a Buddha image shelter near high-voltage power lines. On May 14, 2025, Muang Lampang Police received a report of a person falling from a roof and sustaining injuries at an open-air shelter in Ban Don Muan, Phichai Subdistrict, Muang District, Lampang Province. Rescue personnel from Khai Surasak Montri Hospital and local police rushed to the scene to investigate and provide assistance. Near the shelter, rescue workers found one injured male victim identified as Mr. Lop, age 40, a resident of Ban Don Muan in Phichai Subdistrict, Muang District, Lampang Province, lying unconscious on the ground with multiple wounds. Officials administered first aid before transferring him to the hospital for further treatment. According to the investigation, prior to the incident, Mr. Lop had carried zinc sheeting up to repair the roof of the Buddha image shelter, located over 3 meters high in what was formerly a temple site near high-voltage electrical poles. It is believed that as he carried the zinc sheeting upward, it may have made contact with the high-voltage power line, causing an electrical short circuit that electrocuted him and caused him to fall from the roof with resulting injuries. Community leaders stated that the area was the location of an old temple with a Buddha image that had been frequently flooded, leading to the temple's relocation to a new site while leaving the Buddha image behind. Residents had constructed a thatched roof to protect it from rain, but when the roof developed leaks, they requested permission from the electric utility company to repair it. However, due to its proximity to the high-voltage power lines, the accident occurred. Fortunately, no fatalities resulted from the incident.
Thai authorities are launching a three-phase crackdown on foreign criminal networks, with police and interior officials coordinating efforts to combat illegal foreign activities across the country.
BANGKOK: Authorities are stepping up the fight against escalating foreign criminal activities in Thailand with a three-phase crackdown outlined by the Royal Thai Police (RTP) and mechanisms to address foreign settlement being discussed by the Ministry of Interior.
Minister Suchart Chomklin ordered three environmental agencies to urgently investigate corruption allegations after a survey ranked them among Thailand's most bribed government departments.
On May 14, 2025, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suchart Chomklin issued urgent orders to subordinate agencies that appeared in recent news reports—including the Pollution Control Department, Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plants, and Royal Forest Department—to expedite fact-checking and submit detailed clarification reports. This came after the public release of data identifying government agencies with "the highest average bribery values" based on a corruption survey. The report cited findings by Thanawuth, which ranked the top ten agencies with the highest average bribe values, including the Pollution Control Department, Port Authority, Revenue Department, Revenue Code Department, justice sector, Food and Drug Administration, Department of Highways, Department of Public Works and Town Planning, Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plants, and Royal Forest Department.
Minister Suchart emphasized that the ministry takes good governance, transparency, and anti-corruption efforts seriously. Any allegations or complaints regarding official misconduct must be investigated thoroughly to build public confidence. He instructed all subordinate agencies to strictly adhere to legal requirements, regulations, and ethical standards, while fully cooperating with fact-checking investigations and promptly reporting results to the ministry for further action.
Suchart reaffirmed that the ministry will not overlook any matters affecting public trust and will take decisive action if any wrongdoing or inappropriate behavior by officials is found.
Navy Commander denies weapons leaked from military after a Chinese national was arrested in connection with a naval officer who sold firearms, calling it isolated individual misconduct.
Navy Commander denies weapons have leaked from the military following police arrest of a Chinese man carrying C-4 explosives in connection with a navy officer who sold firearms to Ming Chen Sun. The commander states the incident involves only individual misconduct and will not provide any assistance, emphasizing the officer must be removed from the organization. On May 14, at Haad Yao Beach in Sathib District, Chonburi Province, Admiral Pairojn Fuengchanthern, Commander of the Royal Thai Navy, addressed allegations that navy weapons were leaked in connection with the case of Ming Chen Sun, a Chinese national arrested after police discovered a large cache of military weapons. He stated he had investigated and confirmed there was no "leak" from the military, but rather an act of individual misconduct. He emphasized to naval units and commanding officers that no assistance will be provided, stressing that ethical conduct must come first and must be the individual's own responsibility before they can serve as a good naval officer. When asked about his concerns regarding multiple navy personnel involvement in recent cases, including the shooting of MP Kamlasak Leewamoh from Narathiwat and the Ming Chen Sun arrest, the Navy Commander stated he had no personal concerns since these are matters of individual conduct, and anything harmful must be removed from the organization, which he emphasized clearly.