Bangkok: The Director-General of the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) is accelerating its investigation into fragrant coconut processing businesses. Initially, 15 operators across three provinces have been identified as potentially being nominees.

According to Thai News Agency, Pol. Col. Yutthana Praedam, Director-General of the DSI, is expediting the investigation into coconut processing businesses suspected of being operated by nominees, allegedly using foreign investment groups to drive down the price of fragrant coconuts. This follows a report received from the Department of Business Development, Ministry of Commerce. He assigned the Special Cases Operations Division to hold a meeting yesterday with the Department of Business Development and 10 other relevant agencies to discuss the issue of low coconut prices.

Furthermore, the DSI is coordinating with provincial commerce offices, local agencies, and local administrative organizations to determine the number of fruit packing houses that the Department of Business Development has information on, and what irregularities have been found. Initially, 15 operators were identified as being at risk of operating as nominees, spread across three provinces: Ratchaburi, Nakhon Pathom, and Samut Sakhon.