Bangkok: DSI explains in detail the progress of the illegal pork import case, finding 30 suspects: "Chinese-Thai investors-government officials", sending them to the NACC to take action against the officials involved. Mr. Sombun Muangklam, Advisor to the Minister of Justice, along with top officials from the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), announced the details of the illegal importation of animal carcasses, primarily pigs, into the Kingdom during 2020-2022.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Sombun stated that the investigation stemmed from a complaint by the National Swine Raisers Association. The complaint led to a criminal case against several groups, including government officials, capitalists, and shipping companies, accused of smuggling goods into the country. The investigation unveiled 161 containers of frozen pork valued at 460,105,947 baht, imported without permission from the Department of Livestock Development, violating the Customs Act B.E. 2560 and the Animal Epidemics Act B.E. 2558.
Pol. Lt. Col. Nattapol outlined that the DSI is probing three groups of special cases. Group 1 involves 10 private companies linked to illegal imports at the Laem Chabang Customs Checkpoint, with state officials implicated in all cases. Among the companies named are The Cube Logistics Company Limited and Good Water Equipment Company Limited, with case submissions to the NACC scheduled throughout 2024.
The second group involves products already released to the market. Investigations revealed connections to 10 special cases, with an import value of 1,566,760,187 baht. This group is under scrutiny in Special Case No. 126/2023, which involves international criminal cooperation with seven countries, including Italy and Brazil, to verify the authenticity of the goods declared as pork.
Further investigations revealed a third group engaged in origin rights fraud, involving document forgery by government officials to falsely claim the origin of products exported from the Kingdom. This case, identified as Special Case No. 127/2566, involves 14 suspects, including Thai and foreign investors and government officials. The investigation has been completed, and the case has been sent to the NACC.
Overall, 12 cases related to smuggling and exporting animal carcasses have been investigated. Eleven cases have been completed and forwarded to the NACC, involving approximately 30 individuals, including Thai and Chinese investors and officials. The NACC is expanding its investigation, with one case still requiring international cooperation to prosecute the involved parties.