Bangkok: Four government agencies have uncovered a significant shipment of hazardous waste imported from Morocco. The Customs Department, Department of Industrial Works, Department of Special Investigation, and the Port Authority of Thailand jointly inspected 36 containers weighing a total of 736 tons, identifying them as hazardous waste under the Basel Convention, posing potential risks to public health. According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Thirach Attanavanich, Director-General of the Customs Department, revealed that the containers, listed as ZINC CONCENTRATE and weighing 736,425 kilograms, originated from Casablanca, Morocco, imported on March 22, 2025. The goods were described as a fine brown powder with a pungent odor, packed in sacks. X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis identified significant levels of zinc (32.2%) and iron (13.5%), and contamination with heavy metals such as lead (1.24%), cadmium (890 ppm), and antimony (540 ppm), classifying them as hazardous waste under the Basel Convention. The releas e of such waste could lead to severe public health issues, including lung disease, respiratory problems, and cancer, along with environmental contamination of soil, water, and air. This incident constitutes a violation of the Hazardous Substances Act B.E. 2535, the Ministry of Industry Announcement on the List of Hazardous Substances B.E. 2556, List 5.2 Chemical Waste Substances, List 2.2, and the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal. The Director-General emphasized the Customs Department's commitment to expel the hazardous waste from the country and collaborate with relevant agencies to prevent the entry of similar dangerous goods, ensuring public safety and sustainable health. In the fiscal year 2025, from October 1, 2025, to June 9, 2025, the seizure statistics include 37 cases of electronic waste (505,073 kilograms), 13 cases of plastic scraps (445,122 kilograms), and 2 cases of zinc oxide (499,649 kilograms). The Customs Department plans to integrate efforts with relevant agencies to exchange intelligence and conduct strict inspections of imports and exports. The Department of Special Investigation is considering classifying this seizure as a special case.
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