CHONBURI, Thailand – The Customs Department has intercepted 256 tons of smuggled electronic waste at Laem Chabang Port in Chonburi Province. The seizure follows coordinated efforts involving international customs intelligence and stringent surveillance measures.
The illicit cargo, discovered on January 3rd and 6th, comprised ten shipping containers falsely declared as “used metal scraps.” The shipments, originating from Japan and Hong Kong, contained hazardous electronic components prohibited under Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce regulations and the Basel Convention on hazardous waste.
In the current fiscal year, spanning October 1st, 2024, to January 14th, 2025, the department has handled 19 cases of electronic waste totaling over 256,000 kilograms and six cases of plastic scrap amounting to nearly 323,000 kilograms. Combined with other seizures, this brings the total to 25 cases and over 579,000 kilograms of illegal waste.
The department’s ongoing efforts have yielded significant results. In the previous fiscal year, authorities confiscated over 1.2 million kilograms of municipal waste in nine cases, highlighting the growing challenge of illegal waste imports.
As of January 1st, the importation of plastic scrap is entirely banned under a Ministry of Commerce directive. This aligns with broader efforts to combat the global rise in electronic and plastic waste while addressing health and environmental risks. (NNT)
