Joint forces to crack down on illegal gold mining

A joint operations base will be set up, bringing together national park rangers, border patrol police and army personnel to combat illegal gold mining inside Thong Pha Phum National Park in Kanchanaburi, on the orders of Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suchart Chomklin.

- APINYA WIPATAYOTIN

Athapol Charoenshunsa, director-general of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, said the initiative is part of a broader effort to curb forest encroachment and illegal mining in protected areas.

Since the start of this year, the authorities have handled 29 related cases involving 44 offenders, including Thais and foreigners.