Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suchart Chomklin on Monday led a search operation targeting an illegal waste disposal network at Laem Chabang Port in Chon Buri, vowing to end Thailand’s reputation as the world’s waste bin.
Code-named “Operation Can Opener”, the operation was led by the Pollution Control Department (PCD) and the Basel Convention Thai Coordinating Centre, in collaboration with the Basel Action Network.
Representatives from the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), Customs Department, Department of Industrial Works (DIW), United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime plus other relevant agencies also took part.
Mr Suchart said the operation followed an order establishing a special operations unit to monitor waste disposal in the eastern region. The unit aims to prevent illegal waste shipments at their source and enable authorities to take preventive legal action more quickly, he said.
The operation also expanded an initial investigation that identified seven US export companies and 16 Thai import companies suspected of links to international waste disposal operations in Thailand.
During Monday’s operation, six of nine containers from the United States, declared as containing aluminium bits, were found to be contaminated with electronic waste.
Mr Suchart said the DSI, Customs Department and DIW would compile the findings as evidence for the investigation.
Authorities are expected to expand their probe into the operations of the 23 companies over the past two years to gather further evidence and witness statements.
The PCD will also work with the companies at the source and the Secretariat of the Basel Convention to determine responsibility, Mr Suchart said.
Mr Suchart said the ministry would use “prevent-before-entry” measures and operations at the source to end Thailand’s reputation as the world’s waste dump, stressing that profits would never be placed above public and environmental safety.