Chiang Mai, The Director-General of the National Park Department revealed that officials from Pha Daeng National Park in Chiang Mai Province arrested suspects of illegally processing timber, expanding the investigation to seize suspicious rosewood and teak, along with processing equipment, at the homes of those involved in the operation. Mr. Atthapol Charoenchansa, Director-General of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, revealed that according to the order of Pol. Gen. Patcharawat Wongsuwan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, to work proactively in preventing and suppressing illegal hunting and deforestation, as well as expanding the results to arrest the large capitalists behind it, which has been ordered for field agencies to take action. In this regard, Mr. Prakasit Rawiwan, Chief of Pha Daeng National Park, Chiang Mai Province, reported that on July 4, 2024, a team of officers from Pha Daeng National Park Protection Unit 5 (Mae Cha) was informed by a source that logging had been found in the Pha Daeng National Park area, in the forest to the west of Ban Tung Khao Phuang, Village No. 3, Tung Khao Phuang Subdistrict, Chiang Dao District, Chiang Mai Province. Therefore, they went to inspect the area and found traces of logging, so they dispersed to inspect nearby areas. Approximately 500 meters away, they found a hut and a suspicious man, later identified as Mr. Ko. (Last name withheld) 56 years old, a citizen in Tung Khao Phuang Subdistrict, Chiang Dao District, Chiang Mai Province. Officers inspected the area around the hut and found 7 rosewood logs and 3 rosewood sheets. When questioning the mayor, he was unable to produce any documents or evidence of the origin of the wood to show the officers. Officers therefore arrested the suspect along with evidence of the illegal wood processing, a cap gun, and found 2 methamphetamine pills in his bag. The suspect was taken to the Na Wai Police Station for legal proceedings. Later, the suspect implic ated an accomplice named Mr. Ang. The officers also checked the information in the suspect's mobile phone and found that there was contact by phone. Therefore, they assigned Mr. Narinthorn Sawatrak, Assistant Chief of Pha Daeng National Park, to request a court warrant from Chiang Dao District Court to inspect the house in Tung Khao Phuang Subdistrict, Chiang Dao District, Chiang Mai Province. Inside the house, they found Mrs. Buaphan (surname withheld), who is Mr. Ang's mother-in-law. When the force dispersed to inspect inside the house, which was a 1-story concrete house with 3 rooms inside, a pile of rosewood and teak was found next to the house, divided into 43 processed rosewood and 12 processed teak. Ms. Buaphan stated that the wood belonged to Mr. Sarawut (surname withheld) or Mr. Ang, her son-in-law, and brought 2 documents of wood possession to show the officers. However, since there was a large amount of wood and it was prohibited wood, the officers seized it to examine its accuracy and recorded it as initial evidence at Na Wai Police Station. If the investigation finds that the wood piled up inside the house and the documents evidencing its acquisition are incorrect, legal action will be taken. Source: Thai News Agency