Wildlife Officers Bust Illegal Rosewood Smuggling Ring, Seize Over 1 Million Baht
Wildlife officers arrested five Thai and Vietnamese nationals operating an illegal rosewood smuggling network in Phu Khiao Wildlife Sanctuary, Chaiyaphum Province, seizing contraband worth over 1 million baht.
On July 19, 2025, Environment Minister Suchat Chomklin thanked officers at Phu Khiao Wildlife Sanctuary and all partner agencies for their successful crackdown on illegal rosewood harvesting in the protected forest. Working with Huai Yang police in Chaiyaphum Province, authorities arrested a smuggling network operating between Thai and Vietnamese nationals, seizing contraband worth over 1 million baht. The minister has ordered prosecutors to oppose bail for the suspects, as previous cases show accused persons in such matters often exploit bail to escape prosecution.
According to Arthapol Charoenchantsaa, director-general of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, the operation took place from July 18–19, 2025. Officers arrested five individuals: Thai nationals Pramote (age 47, from Udon Thani) and Wickom (age 52, from Uthai Thani), and three Vietnamese nationals named Nguyen (ages 45, 37, and 49).
The seizure included two vehicles—a white Toyota Hilux and a black Isuzu TFR—104 kilograms of rosewood, five mobile phones, and enforcement equipment stored in three blue bags. Authorities charged the suspects with nine criminal offenses under environmental and wildlife protection laws, including unauthorized entry into a protected wildlife area, degradation of natural resources, illegal extraction of protected timber, and unauthorized processing of forest products. The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation is listed as the injured party in the prosecution.
