Thailand Cracks Down on Illegal E-Waste Smuggling

Thai authorities have launched a full-scale investigation into the illegal import of electronic waste, inspecting nine containers at Laem Chabang Port in Chonburi province suspected of involvement. This initiative aims to prevent environmental pollution and strengthen inter-agency cooperation, driven by concerns that Thailand may become a final destination for hazardous waste from abroad. On September 14, Mr. Suchart Chomklin, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, visited Laem Chabang Port. Alongside officials from Customs, the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), the Pollution Control Department, and the Department of Industrial Works, he oversaw the inspection of suspicious containers in accordance with the Basel Convention, an international agreement on the control of transboundary movements of hazardous wastes and their disposal. Of the nine containers inspected, six had previously been found to be in violation, while the remaining three belonged to the same company. Earlier, on August 26, a joint inspection by Customs, the Pollution Control Department, and the Department of Industrial Works of ten containers revealed that while four matched their declarations, six were found to contain mixed electronic circuit boards or substances potentially classified as hazardous waste. The issue originated on August 25 when the DSI requested Customs to impound 50 containers for investigation. Subsequent data checks indicated that 19 of these were already seized by Customs, 14 had no import records into the country, and the remaining 17 had import data. One container had been released before the impoundment notice was issued, while six are currently impounded and awaiting contact from the importers. The Customs Department reported its environmental protection achievements from October 2023 to August 2024, stating that 187 related cases were apprehended, with a total weight of 9.67 million kilograms and seized goods valued at over 234.4 million baht. This includes 2.7 million kilograms of e-waste, 6.6 million kilograms of hazardous waste, and 300,000 kilograms of plastic scraps. Customs emphasized that this is not a task for any single agency but requires the combined use of import data, documentation, and inspections from multiple departments to track down and expand the investigation to all involved parties. The department is committed to preventing Thailand from becoming a destination for foreign waste, particularly e-waste and hazardous materials. Moving forward, attention will be focused on how far the investigation will extend and to whom. The mission extends beyond mere confiscation; it is crucial to trace the origin of the e-waste entering Thailand. Source: INN News