The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has apprehended a father-son duo allegedly involving in the large-scale pork smuggling into Thailand.
The DSI detained Mr.Virach Phurichat, 69 the board member of the Wealthy & Healthy Foods Co.,Ltd. and the Good Shop Co.,Ltd. and Mr. Thanakrit Phurichat 42 upon their arrival at Suvarnabhumi Airport from the United States after they had contacted the police to turn themselves in to fight the charges of violating customs laws, and illegally importing animals or animal carcasses without permission into Thailand.
The two suspects orchestrated the smuggling operation through a network of shipping companies, hiring My House Trading Co.,Ltd. and Kanta Thai Fronzen Fish Limited Partnership to import 33 containers of frozen pork into the country.
The suspects in the shipping firms had been earlier arrested before the DSI expanded investigation, connecting the father-son duo to the illicit activities.
The DSI Director, Pol.Maj. Suriya Singhakamol said further questioning aims to determine the origin and destination of the smuggled pork, including the items seized from the cold storage facility in Samut Sakhon province.
The investigation has revealed that both suspects hired the shipping companies to import illicit pork from Germany and Brazil, distributing it to large-scale wholesale consumer goods centers across the country.
Pol. Maj. Suriya said that the suspects have been involved in illegal pork imports since 2021, and the DSI received the case under its responsibility in 2023. Most of the initial batches were distributed to consumers and the remaining stocks were confiscated.
In response to the Prime Minister’s inquiry regarding the delayed asset seizure of the illegal pork tycoon, Pol. Maj. Suriya explained that the case falls under the jurisdiction of customs and disease control laws.
The DSI has coordinated with the Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) regarding the financial trail and asset seizure. AMLO has taken up the case, expecting to commence asset seizure within this month.
The total assets, estimated to be worth hundreds of millions baht, are believed to be located in the Bangkok metropolitan area and its suburbs. Additionally, there are indications of several other implicated business figures, with investigations ongoing to confirm involvement. Notably, at least 10 state officials are allegedly involved in the pork smuggling.
Regarding recent arrests, warrants were issued for 10 suspects in the shipping firms. Six people were detained and the authorities are actively pursuing the remaining four, currently in hiding within the country.
As for the group of business figures, two suspects have been arrested based on warrants coordinated today. In total, out of the 12 individuals with arrest warrants, eight have been detained.
Investigations are ongoing to uncover more connections, focusing on those hiring the imports of illegal pork and operators of cold storage facilities. (TNA)
