September 9, 2022

Eight tonnes of illegally transported frozen pork confiscated in Maha Sarakham, Thailand

Customs officials in Thailand seized about eight tonnes of frozen pork, worth about ฿1.6 million (US$44,018), from two trucks in Kantharalak district of the north-eastern province of Maha Sarakham on September 7.

According to the customs investigation and suppression unit based in the north-eastern region, officials received information that two trucks would be delivering a substantial shipment of frozen pork, smuggled into Thailand from the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, to a customer in Maha Sarakham.

A team of customs officials was dispatched to Kham Riang sub-district, where the smuggled pork was supposed to be delivered to the customer. Subsequently, upon arrival, they were confiscated.

Thailand has banned the import of pork from abroad to prevent the spread of African swine fever (ASF). Some imported pork is also treated with chemicals to make it look fresh.

Smuggling of pork from Thailand’s neighbouring countries has been rampant in recent months, due to the wide gap between the prices of imported and locally-produced pork.

Pig farmers in Thailand have been calling on the country's Livestock Development Department to crack down on the smuggling of pork, claiming that the practice will ruin their business.

- Thai PBS