Category: The Bangkok Post

A photograph appearing to show a crocodile lurking in floodwater at a school in Sattahip district sparked a frantic search on Thursday involving rescue workers, police and local officials, only for a student to later admit he had created the image using artificial intelligence.

The incident unfolded after a teacher reported that a photo of a crocodile floating near the library of Singsamut high school had been widely shared on social media and in the school’s Line chat group.

The image appeared convincing because the area had been flooded by heavy rain the night before, raising fears that a crocodile might have entered the campus and pose a danger to students and nearby residents.

Rescue workers from the Sawang Rojanathammasathan Sattahip Foundation, joined by police and municipal officials, cordoned off the area and launched a search. More than 10 personnel spent about 30 minutes combing through standing water and inspecting potential hiding spots, but found no sign of the reptile.

The mystery was solved after teachers contacted a Matthayom 5 (Year 11) student, who was traced as the source of the image.

Arriving at the scene, the student apologised and admitted he had used AI to add a crocodile to a real photograph taken at the school. He said he had shared the edited image with friends as a joke and did not expect it to spread across social media or be mistaken for a genuine sighting.

The student said he had acted without thinking and never intended to cause disruption or concern.

The false alarm also drew the attention of Thanatharn Pramoonpong, a People’s Party MP for Sattahip, who travelled to the school after hearing reports of a crocodile sighting.

He said he appreciated the student’s willingness to admit what he had done and thanked all agencies involved in responding to the incident.

Sattahip officials and rescue workers urged the public to verify the source and credibility of images and information before sharing, especially AI-generated content, to avoid causing public panic and wasting resources on investigations triggered by false reports.

BG Pathum United have moved to shore up their fragile defence with the signing of Uruguayan Yeferson Quintana from Brazilian side Paysandu, the club confirmed.

The towering 196cm centre-back, who began his career at boyhood club Penarol in 2016, has since had loan spells at San Jose Earthquakes, Cerro Largo, Danubio and Racing Ferrol before joining Defensor Sporting in 2022. He moved to Brazil in 2024, turning out for Portuguesa before Paysandu.

“I am very happy to join the team and have the opportunity to wear this shirt,” Quintana, 30, said. “I can’t wait to get on the pitch and fight for everyone, and for this club’s crest. I will do my absolute best to take this club to its destination. See you at the stadium — I will wear this shirt and play with immense pride.”

Elsewhere, PT Prachuap FC have completed a striking coup, securing former England international Andros Townsend from Kanchanaburi Power.

Prachuap head coach Sasom Pobprasert admitted the move had come as a surprise even within the club.

“It is quite a surprising deal, because we are not a big team that a player of his calibre would ordinarily consider,” he said. “Credit must go to our chairman, Songkiat Limarunrak, who negotiated with the player’s agent just a week before the deal was finalised.”

Sasom added that Townsend’s experience would benefit Prachuap’s younger players. Townsend, who recently worked as a pundit at the 2026 World Cup, is expected to join the squad around July 25.

Meanwhile, the Football Association of Thailand has confirmed the fixture list for the 2026-27 Thai League 2 season, which begins on Sept 4. The campaign comprises 34 matches per club.

The opening match will see Uttaradit host Muang Thong United, while Kanchanaburi Power — now under former Vietnam coach Park Hang-Seo — travel to face PT Satun on Sept 6.

Tyson Fury declared he feels “at peace with everything” as he addressed the media on Wednesday ahead of his heavyweight bout against Mariusz Wach, which takes place tomorrow (Friday) at the 1,500-seat Max Muay Thai Arena in Pattaya.

The press conference, held at the Amelia Hotel Pattaya, officially launched the event, promoted by Gold Star Promotion and sanctioned by the World Boxing Council (WBC).

The contest serves as Fury’s return to the ring before a proposed showdown with Anthony Joshua later this year, with the newly created WBC Humanitarian Title also on the line.

Fury revealed that the opportunity to fight in Thailand came after a planned Aug 1 bout in Dublin was replaced by an event that offered something more meaningful.

“It’s a special moment to be out here in Thailand,” said Fury. “I’ve been here since December. Beautiful place, beautiful people. I feel at peace with everything. I think I thrive better in warmer climates. I feel rejuvenated.

“I was supposed to box in Dublin on Aug 1, but an opportunity arose to fight here for a good cause as well. I did my own research and found the Father Ray Foundation. It means a lot to me to give back to such an unbelievable charity.”

Fury also acknowledged the unusual setting for a heavyweight star of his stature.

“I’m happy to do a fight over here in Thailand, taking over a boxing show. Which other heavyweight world champion would do a performance in a 1,500-seat arena in Pattaya? Do you think David Beckham or someone famous like that would do it? No way.”

Despite the attention surrounding a potential clash with Joshua, Fury insisted his full focus remains on the experienced Polish veteran standing across from him.

“This is a dangerous fight,” Fury said. “Mariusz is the same weight as me, the same size as me. He’s had the same amount of fights, if not more. He’s been in with elite-level champions. Mariusz would beat Joshua’s opponent, whoever he is. This man is a real fighting man.”

Fury dismissed any suggestion that Friday’s contest is merely a stepping stone.

“This is my show and I’m not interested in what’s happening elsewhere with Joshua. What happens before Friday is none of my concern. What will be, will be, and what won’t, won’t. If it happens, God willing, good. If it doesn’t, good.”

Thailand will hold talks with Myanmar leader Min Aung Hlaing next month on cross-border environmental and security issues, including toxic contamination in the Kok River, agricultural burning and narcotics production, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said on Wednesday.

Speaking in Chon Buri after returning from an official visit to China, Mr Anutin said environmental protection featured prominently in his discussions with Chinese leaders, including green economic development, clean energy and environmentally friendly manufacturing aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

He said the government remained committed to tackling environmental issues, including contamination in the Kok River, which authorities have been monitoring closely.

Mr Anutin said Myanmar’s president, Min Aung Hlaing, is scheduled to make an official visit to Thailand on Aug 3-4. During the visit, Thailand will raise concerns over toxic pollutants in the Kok River and seek Myanmar’s cooperation in addressing the problem.

The Kok River originates in Myanmar before flowing into Thailand, making cooperation between the two countries essential. He said measures to combat transboundary haze caused by agricultural burning, drug production and trafficking are also expected to be discussed.

The ‘exchange programme’ scam has become a growing concern among parents, with a reported rise in cases involving university students being lured to hotels where they are asked to persuade their parents to transfer money for a ‘bank book guarantee’.

The latest case involved a business administration student at Kasetsart University in Bangkok, who lost 699,900 baht to scammers before being rescued from a hotel on Monday, according to a university statement issued on Thursday.

Acting university president Khongsak Thiangtum also clarified that the student had not been kidnapped from the university’s campus in Chatuchak district, as had been reported previously, while outlining the sequence of events.

On Sunday afternoon, the student, whose year of study was not disclosed, received a call from scammers posing as representatives of the mobile operator AIS. The call was later transferred to another scammer claiming to be a police officer from the Muang Loei police station in northeastern Thailand.

The student was falsely told they had been implicated in a nationwide fraud network and was instructed to communicate via Telegram. The gang demanded 700,000 baht as proof of innocence.

According to the university, the student was threatened and pressured into lying to their parents about being selected for an exchange programme.

The parents said their child claimed to have received a scholarship to participate in a programme at New York University and requested money for a bank book guarantee.

Trusting their child, they made three transactions – 49,900 baht, 250,000 baht and 400,000 baht – on Monday.

After being alerted to the situation, the university determined that the claim was fraudulent and reported the matter to Phahon Yothin police, who launched a rescue operation.

Investigators later located the student at a hotel in the area.

The student was safely reunited with their parents, and later provided information to investigators at the Phahon Yothin station.

A similar scam was reported last week in Pathum Thani, where two Rangsit University students were rescued from a hotel after transferring a combined 900,000 baht to scammers.

Police are continuing their investigation. No arrests linked to the scheme have been reported so far.

Thailand is seeking the extradition of a woman accused of hiring a Thai flight attendant to carry heroin-filled bags to Australia, as authorities intensify efforts to dismantle a transnational drug trafficking network linked to a notorious drug kingpin in Myanmar’s Shan State.

The suspect, identified only as Chantra, is the person behind the Facebook account ‘Rose Rose’, which allegedly contacted and recruited a Thai Airways International flight attendant, Meena, through Facebook Messenger to transport bags concealing narcotics, said Pol Maj Gen Noppasit Mitpakdee, commander of the Narcotics Suppression Bureau’s Division 1.

Investigators believe Ms Chantra has fled to Myanmar and is hiding in an area controlled by ethnic armed groups.

According to Pol Maj Gen Noppasit, Ms Chantra is related to Col Ja Lobo, a suspected drug lord based in southern Shan State. Authorities describe him as a key figure in a major transnational drug production and trafficking operation. He previously served as deputy commander of Military Region 171, an area under the influence of the United Wa State Army (UWSA), one of Myanmar’s most powerful ethnic armed groups.

Thai security and anti-narcotics agencies have monitored Col Ja Lobo for years. An arrest warrant has already been issued for him.

Pol Maj Gen Noppasit said authorities are now coordinating with Myanmar officials to bring Ms Chantra back to face prosecution. He noted that Thailand and Myanmar do not have a mutual legal assistance treaty (MLAT), meaning officials must rely on international cooperation and diplomatic channels to secure her return.

Meanwhile, Parin Mekhanan, director of the Office of Narcotics Control Board’s (ONCB) Bangkok office, said Ms Meena remains in the custody of the Australian Federal Police and is scheduled to appear before Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Sept 14.

The ONCB has continuously provided information to Australian authorities, although any decision on whether that evidence will be used in Ms Meena’s case rests with Australian prosecutors and courts. Australian authorities have not requested additional information from Thailand, he said.

Pol Maj Gen Teeradej Thammasuthee, deputy commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, said authorities are stepping up efforts against transnational drug syndicates that use Thailand as an export hub.

He said such networks are often run by foreign nationals, including Chinese, Vietnamese and ethnic minority groups, who trick Thais into carrying drugs overseas. Authorities cited Ms Meena’s case and another involving crystal methamphetamine concealed in tamarind paste destined for Tokyo.

However, he said cases of unsuspecting Thais being recruited as drug couriers have declined as public awareness has grown following a series of high-profile arrests and media reports.

A teacher and social media influencer from Ratchaburi has petitioned health authorities and professional medical bodies to investigate the treatment her late husband received at a private hospital, alleging possible breaches of medical and nursing standards.

Benyaporn Phanphet, better known as “Kru Sai”, was accompanied by Thanakrit Chit-arirat, a former secretary to the public health minister, as she submitted complaints to the Department of Health Service Support (DHSS), the Medical Council of Thailand (MCT) and the Thailand Nursing and Midwifery Council on Tuesday.

The petitions seek investigations into the conduct of doctors, nurses and other medical personnel involved in treating her husband before his death at a private hospital in Ratchaburi.

Mr Thanakrit said the complaint asks the DHSS to conduct a fresh on-site inspection based on testimony from the victim’s family rather than relying solely on information gathered from media reports. Investigators were asked to compare the family’s account with the hospital’s medical records to determine whether they are consistent.

He also urged the Medical Council and the Nursing Council to examine whether healthcare professionals involved complied with professional and ethical standards.

In addition, Mr Thanakrit asked the DHSS to act as a mediator in discussions with the hospital regarding preliminary compensation for the family. He said he had been authorised to assist the family in pursuing both civil and criminal action against those found responsible.

Ms Benyaporn is seeking an investigation into the death of her husband, Phanupong Wongwai, 31, following an alleged misdiagnosis at the hospital.

San Camillo Hospital has apologised and suspended the doctor involved, who has reportedly been unreachable since the incident. Hospital director Father Piyasak Wongwai has pledged full cooperation with the inquiry.

Ms Benyaporn said the doctor failed to perform an electrocardiogram (ECG) despite her husband complaining of chest pain. The doctor allegedly attributed the symptoms to anxiety and discharged him. Mr Phanupong later collapsed and died. An autopsy found two blocked coronary arteries.

Medical council secretary-general Ittaporn Kanacharoen said the council would review medical records, the autopsy report and other evidence to determine whether the treatment met professional standards. Also on Tuesday, Akhom Praditsuwan, deputy director-general of the DHSS, expressed condolences to the family and pledged a fair and impartial investigation.

Dr Ittaporn said the council had already requested documents and would summon all relevant parties to provide testimony. Medical experts would then assess whether the diagnosis and treatment met accepted clinical standards, he said.

Authorities have intercepted an international parcel containing nearly 1,000 tablets of suspected 2C-B, a synthetic psychoactive drug classified as a Category 1 narcotic, concealed inside children’s toys, officials said on Wednesday.

The parcel, shipped from Tiel in the Netherlands and addressed to a recipient in Bang Lamung district, Chon Buri, was flagged as suspicious by customs and narcotics officials during screening at the Bangkok Express Mail Centre in Lak Si district.

An X-ray scan revealed anomalies inside the package. A subsequent search uncovered 992 multicoloured tablets hidden in silver zip-lock bags inside Lego Marvel and Duplo building block sets. The tablets — 446 green and 546 yellow — weighed 213 grammes, including packaging.

Preliminary tests using a PROGENY RESQ Raman spectrometer identified the substance as 2C-B.

The operation was carried out by a joint task force comprising the Internal Security Operations Command, the Customs Department, the Office of the Narcotics Control Board and other security agencies.

The drugs were seized as evidence and handed over to investigators at Thung Song Hong police station.

Authorities said they were expanding the investigation to identify the intended recipient and dismantle the network responsible for smuggling narcotics through the international postal system.

A suspect has been arrested with 1.5 million speed pills, firearms, a million baht in cash and other assets seized in Thung Song district of this southern province, authorities said on Thursday.

The arrest took place at a house in tambon Na Luang Sen of Thung Song district, provincial governor Somchai Leelanoi said at a media briefing on Thursday. The suspect has been identified only as Manee, 42.

In addition to the speed pills, authorities seized three firearms, more than one million baht in cash, a pickup truck with Nakhon Si Thammarat licence plates and other items.

Investigators said officers were acting on a tip-off from an informant that members of a drug trafficking network were staying at the house and preparing to move a large shipment of narcotics.

When officers arrived, they found the suspect standing beside the pickup truck. Upon noticing the police, he fled on foot but was apprehended after a brief chase.

A search of the pickup uncovered a large quantity of speed pills, while a subsequent search of the house uncovered additional drugs, bringing the total seizure to 1.56 million pills.

The suspect has been charged with possessing a Category 1 narcotic with intent to sell.

Police said the investigation would be expanded to identify and arrest other members of the trafficking network.

The provincial governor said the seizure was the largest made in Nakhon Si Thammarat during the government’s 90-day anti-drug campaign, which has mobilised agencies across the province to intensify narcotics suppression efforts.

Mr Somchai said Nakhon Si Thammarat ranked first nationwide last year in drug-related arrests and asset seizures, with authorities confiscating assets worth 227 million baht from drug suspects.

From January to July this year, assets worth 148 million baht have already been seized, he said.

The Trade Policy and Strategy Office (TPSO) is urging Thai air conditioner manufacturers to penetrate European markets as a record heatwave drives demand.

Thai manufacturers should prioritise energy-efficient products that comply with Europe’s stringent environmental regulations, noted the office.

In May, Thailand exported US$149-million worth of air conditioners, up 40.7% year-on-year, marking the strongest growth since October 2025.

From January to May, the export value totalled $784 million, a gain of 18.9% year-on-year.

The strongest-performing export categories in May were reversible air conditioners with heat pump functions, which surged by 70.6%, followed by air conditioner parts, rising 49.6%, and window or wall-mounted air conditioners, up 21.6%.

Germany was the largest export destination with shipments worth $30.8 million, surging 89.6% year-on-year, followed by France, up 50.9%, with the UK rising 58.2% and Spain gaining 42.2%.

Northern European markets recorded strong growth since the beginning of this year, with Finland growing 367% year-on-year and Sweden up 177%.

Nantapong Chiralerspong, director-general of the TPSO, attributed the sharp export rise to an unusually intense and early heatwave in Western Europe in May. A persistent heat dome pushed average daily temperatures in many areas more than 10°C above normal.

The combination of exceptionally hot weather and forecasts for a scorching summer prompted European importers and retailers to place orders earlier to prepare for peak summer demand from June to August.

He said the export growth reflects a structural shift in demand as air conditioning penetration in Europe averages about 20% of households, compared with the global average of 37% in 2022.

TPSO predicts demand for air conditioners in Europe to remain strong throughout the third quarter.

The World Meteorological Organization projects above-normal temperatures across Europe from July through September, particularly in southern and central Europe, as a strengthening El Niño pattern continues to influence global weather.

The sustained demand has depleted retailers’ inventories and is expected to lead to continued restocking.

Mr Nantapong said Europe offers strong long-term growth potential for Thai air conditioner exports. As the world’s fastest-warming continent, with temperatures rising 0.53°C per decade since the mid-1990s, demand is likely to increase.

EU policies promoting heat pumps are also making air conditioners an essential household appliance, supporting sustained market growth.

TPSO noted growth in the European market is closely linked to stringent environmental policies.

Manufacturers should monitor tightening environmental regulations, particularly as Europe gradually limits the use of refrigerants, said the office.

“To be competitive, exporters should focus on product quality, energy efficiency and environmental performance,” Mr Nantapong said.