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Thailand news, politics, business, crime, lifestyle, and tourism—stay updated with breaking news and in-depth analysis from Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, and beyond.
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Surin checkpoint stop exposes drink-driving monk in disguise
A drunk monk was arrested at a checkpoint in Surin early on March 27 after police said he was disguised in a wig while driving in a pickup, with a woman passenger and a handgun later found during a search. The pickup truck was stopped at about 12.05am on Krung Si Nok Road in Mueang Surin. Officers reported the driver…
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Kanchanaburi sting nets two Myanmar suspects in prostitution case
Police in Kanchanaburi arrested two Myanmar men on March 27, after an undercover sting targeting a prostitution arrangement network in a border area, with a 15 year old identified as a human trafficking victim. The investigation began after police received information that a group of Myanmar youths were allegedly bringing women across the border for prostitution in Nong Lu, Sangkhla…
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Bridge linking Lumpini and Benchakitti park set to open on May 1
Bangkok runners and walkers will soon be able to travel between Lumpini Park and Benchakitti Park via the Lumpini Green Bridge. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) officials are expecting an informal opening on May 1. Deputy Bangkok governor Chakkapan Phewngam visited the project site in Pathum Wan district to follow up on work overseen by the Environment Department. He was…
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Thailand PM apologises for fuel issues, lifts price caps
Thailand’s prime minister has apologised for the country’s fuel management issues, blaming prolonged disruptions on the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Anutin Charnvirakul said the decision to end fuel price caps was taken to curb oil smuggling and ease shortages. Speaking at a press conference at Government House in Bangkok on Saturday, Anutin addressed the situation following a month…
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Two women injured after shooting near Pattaya Music Festival site
Two women were seriously injured in a shooting near the Pattaya Music Festival 2026 event site in Bang Lamung, Chon Buri, late on March 27, before police arrested a suspect and seized a 9mm pistol. Police were notified at 10.46pm of shots fired near a restaurant on Na Kluea Road, close to Lan Pho Market in Na Kluea. Tourists in…
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Songkran festival to boost Thailand’s economy with 30 billion baht
Thailand’s Songkran Festival Expected to Generate Over 30 Billion Baht This April Thailand’s Songkran festival is set to draw hundreds of thousands of tourists and generate over 30 billion baht in economic circulation this April, with celebrations running from April 11 to 15. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) projects a 6% increase in revenue compared to last year. Despite…
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Long queues at Phuket Airport raise ‘special paid lane’ questions
Claims of a “special paid lane” at outbound immigration in Phuket have circulated online after photos showed long queues at Phuket International Airport over the weekend, according to reports yesterday, March 28. Images shared from the Phuket Info Centre page showed large numbers of tourists queuing at the Immigration Bureau checkpoint on the international departures side. The images prompted widespread…
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Thai authorities target fake local businesses in Krabi tourism sector
Thailand’s Department of Business Development has stepped up its crackdown on nominee businesses in Koh Lanta, Krabi, deploying a multi-agency team to investigate foreign-owned operations disguised as local companies. On March 26 and 27, investigators from the department were joined by the Department of Tourism, Krabi’s Tourism and Sports Office, the Tourist Police Bureau, Immigration Bureau, and Krabi’s Commerce Office.…
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85,000 litres of diesel seized off Sattahip in fuel smuggling case
A suspected fuel smuggling case was uncovered on March 27 off Sattahip, Chon Buri, after the Royal Thai Navy and multiple agencies inspected a tugboat and found 85,000 litres of diesel with no clear origin. The First Naval Area Command, working with Thai-MECC Region 1 and agencies including the Marine Department and the Excise Department, inspected a vessel off Sattahip…
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Transgender women flee after brawl with foreign tourists in Pattaya
A late-night fight involving foreign tourists and a group of transgender women was reported near Walking Street in Pattaya early today, March 29, prompting a response from Pattaya Tourist Police. At 3.30am, Tourist Police stationed at Pattaya Walking Street received a report from members of the public about a brawl near the entrance area by the old South Pattaya pier…
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Thai and foreign residents protest at US Consulate in Chiang Mai
Yesterday, March 28, about 50 Thai and foreign residents gathered outside the US Consulate General in Chiang Mai to protest the United States’ war with Iran and to call for an end to the conflict. The group, calling itself CNX4PEACE, held placards criticising the United States’ military action and urging peace. A representative of the demonstrators read a statement calling…
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Cicada Covid variant prompts caution as cases rise abroad
A Thai health official has warned the public to monitor the new Covid-19 variant known as Cicada, which has been detected in several countries including Japan, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands. Jessada Boonyawongwiwat, deputy director of Maharaj Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital, said the World Health Organisation has urged caution over the variant due to its potential to spread rapidly and…
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Teen’s tragic death sparks call for school safety investigation
A 14 year old girl died following a motorcycle accident after her school allowed her to leave campus without notifying her guardian, raising concerns about student safety protocols and prompting calls for a formal investigation. On March 27, the Pavena Foundation for Children and Women received a complaint from a 43 year old aunt, who travelled from Saraburi province carrying…
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Fake dollar bills distributed in Pattaya by tourists
Foreign tourists in Pattaya were caught distributing counterfeit US$100 bills while filming content on Thursday, March 27, prompting a public warning after some vendors nearly faced legal trouble for attempting to exchange the fake notes. A Facebook user raised the alarm after witnessing well-dressed tourists, described as resembling affluent Arabs, handing out money to members of the public, particularly children,…
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Oil company accused of inflating fuel prices by 10 baht per litre
An Ang Thong oil company has been reported to police for allegedly overcharging on fuel, adding nearly 10 baht per litre above the permitted transport cost of 0.16 baht per litre. On March 27, Sikan Fueangfung, the Ang Thong commerce official and secretary of the provincial committee on prices of goods and services, met with Police Lieutenant Colonel Mongkol Pantaa,…
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Bangkok Airways hikes ticket prices amid rising oil costs
Bangkok Airways is raising ticket prices and adding fuel surcharges from April 1 as oil prices climb to between US$170 and US$180 per barrel. The airline is hedging 30% of its fuel costs and is keeping a close watch on the situation, warning that its annual plan could need revising if prices stay elevated. CEO Puttipong Prasarttong-Osoth said domestic fares…
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British mother seeks woman seen with son before his death in Bangkok hotel
A British mother is trying to identify and contact a foreign woman who was seen with her son, Joshua Kershaw, shortly before he was found dead at a hotel in Sukhumvit area of Bangkok in January. The family of 21 year old British man Joshua began searching for him on social media after losing contact on January 12. Joshua spoke…
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Bangkok warehouse raid uncovers thousands of smuggled drones
Cyber police and relevant officials raided two locations in Bangkok yesterday, March 26, as part of an operation dubbed “Crack down Drone outlaws”, seizing more than 2,500 drones smuggled into Thailand and sold online. According to police, the searches were carried out under a Min Buri Criminal Court warrant linked to the suspected illegal sale of drones, or unmanned aircraft,…
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Phuket man arrested for groping 4 Thai and foreign women
Police arrested a Thai man for sexually assaulting at least four women in the Chalong area of Phuket throughout March. Chalong Police Station said it received four reports of sexual assault from four victims, including Thai and foreign nationals. Police said the incidents caused fear in the area, and some victims were injured while trying to break free from the suspect.…
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Tourist says they fear dogs, not humans, when walking on Thai streets
A foreign tourist has shared a video comparing walking safety in California and Thailand, saying she felt less concerned about people in Thailand but stayed alert for dogs that might chase her on the street. In the clip, the tourist described what she called the “main differences between California and Thailand” when walking outdoors. She said that in the United…
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Screams heard during hunt for woman carried uphill, no trace found
Rescue workers and police launched a search for a missing woman at Khao Song Phi Nong in Chon Buri after a resident reported seeing two men carrying an unconscious woman uphill and returning without her on March 26. The Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Pattaya team said locals reported the incident over concerns the woman may have been harmed. Volunteers coordinated with…
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British and Irish riders arrested in Phuket after viral wheelie video
Police arrested an Irish and a British motorcyclist after they were filmed performing wheelies on a public road in Phuket on March 25. The Facebook page โหดจัง จังหวัดภูเก็ต posted a video showing a foreign man in a blue shirt riding along Chao Fah Tawan Tok Road in Chalong subdistrict. The post included the caption: “Do you think that this is a…
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Couple allegedly beaten by 50 men at Samut Prakan gambling den
A man asked the Sai Mai Must Survive page for help yesterday, March 26, alleging he and his girlfriend were assaulted by a group of more than 50 men inside an illegal gambling den in Samut Prakan, leaving them seriously injured. At 2.30pm, 33 year old Somboon filed a complaint with Ekaphop Lueangprasert, founder of the Sai Mai Must Survive page,…
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Thailand News | Thailand to begin tougher nationwide traffic crackdown, Thailand freezes prices on essential goods amid regional tensions
Today we’ll be talking about a new nationwide crackdown on traffic violations set to begin April 1st, a half a million baht Rolex theft from a Porsche in Phuket, and a little later just how effective has Thailand’s vaping ban been? New numbers show that habit is on the rise despite stricter policies. Thailand to Begin Tougher Nationwide Traffic Crackdown…
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Koh Samui and Koh Pha Ngan ferry fares increase after fuel price jump
Travellers heading to Koh Samui and Koh Pha Ngan now face higher ferry fares after a sharp hike in fuel prices across Thailand prompted a ferry operator in Surat Thani province to raise ticket prices. Seatran Ferry, which operates services between Don Sak Pier in the mainland of Surat Thani and the two islands, first announced a fare adjustment on…
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Bangkok joins Earth Hour 2026 with one-hour lights-out on March 28
Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt has invited residents and organisations across the capital to switch off non-essential lights for one hour tomorrow, March 28, as part of the “60+ Earth Hour 2026” campaign to cut energy use and help tackle global warming. Speaking today, March 27, at Bangkok City Hall, Chadchart said the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is working with network…
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Clothes thieves become aggressive when confronted at market
A couple accused of stealing clothes from two shops at a market in Pathum Thani were confronted by shop owners after a customer reported seeing the items being taken, according to a Facebook post today, March 27. The incident was shared by the Facebook page เจ๊ม้อย v+, which claimed the incident happened while a woman identified only as Aim was…
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Saraburi illegal fuel storage sites found with 29,000 litres in DSI raids
Officers from the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) found three illegal fuel storage sites in Saraburi province, seizing more than 29,000 litres of suspected smuggled diesel and gasoline during a nationwide crackdown. DSI announced the results of the operation carried out between March 24 and 25 in 16 provinces covering 35 main targets to the public yesterday, March 26. The…
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Bangkok canal and river boats to raise fares by 2 baht from March 30
Passenger boat operators on Bangkok’s Saen Saep Canal and the Chao Phraya River will increase fares by two baht from Monday, March 30, citing higher diesel costs after an 18% jump in fuel prices. Family Transport (2002) Ltd, which operates the Saen Saep Canal service between Wat Sri Boonruang and Phan Fah Lilat Bridge, said fares will rise from 11-21…
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Loei monk and alleged lover accused of lewd rituals on old locals
A senior monk in Loei and his alleged lover faced allegations of deceiving elderly men into a lewd “charm boosting ritual” involving sexual activities. Residents and monks in Pak Chom district, Loei, shared details of the scandal with several news agencies on Tuesday, March 24. The allegations involve a 65 year old senior monk, Somchai Taechapanyo, and a man identified…
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