AI cameras help arrest human trafficking suspect in PattayaLegacyPattaya tourist police used an AI surveillance camera system to arrest a Thai man wanted in a human trafficking case near Walking Street in Pattaya on the morning of May 15. The arrest took place at around 9.15am after the AI camera system detected and identified a person matching Criminal Court arrest warrant No. 2462/2569, dated April 29. Police moved in and arrested 38 year old Somchat Saelee, a Thai national, as he was walking near Pattaya Walking Street. Photo via Naewna Somchat was reportedly wanted on several serious charges, including jointly committing human trafficking, conspiracy to commit human trafficking, taking a minor for exploitation, coercion, illegally taking a person out of the kingdom, and entering false information into a computer system. Naewna reported that the charges are linked to a network accused of unlawfully exploiting people and minors. Photo via Naewna After the arrest, officers transferred Somchat to investigators at the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Division (ATPD) for legal proceedings. Police added that the case displayed how AI surveillance technology is being used to support security work and track suspects in serious cases in major tourist areas such as Pattaya. Photo via Naewna Similarly, back in January, four individuals wanted for their alleged roles in online scam operations were arrested in Pattaya after AI-powered surveillance cameras alerted tourist police to their presence at a busy pier. The arrests occurred at Laem Bali Hai Pier in Pattaya, where facial recognition technology flagged each suspect. All had outstanding warrants for cybercrime and fraud, and were handed over to the relevant police units. One suspect explained to police that they were smuggled into Cambodia and forced to work in a compound involved in romance scams and investment fraud, targeting Thai victims. The story AI cameras help arrest human trafficking suspect in Pattaya as seen on Thaiger News.

On May 17, 2025, Police Colonel Wisaka Petchkasem, commander of Wang Sombun Police Station in Sakaeo Province, announced the arrest of four officers and one civilian on charges of unlawful detention, extortion, and abuse of authority. The suspects were apprehended at 2:30 p.m. on May 16 at a house in Wang Som Boon district: two officers from the Traffic Police Division, two from Khlong Had Police Station in Sakaeo, one from Ban Phlang Police Station in Chanthaburi, and a 41-year-old civilian from Nakhon Sawan Province. Police recovered six items including four firearms, 24 ammunition rounds, and two pickup trucks.

The suspects allegedly unlawfully detained five Chinese nationals starting at 2:00 a.m. on May 16, placing handcuffs on them and coercing them to transfer $10,000 (approximately 300,000 baht) each for their release. Two of the victims paid 2,000 dollars each, totaling about 60,000 baht, with evidence shown through bank transfer receipts. Officers discovered the situation after receiving a distress call via Line from an official at Pathum Thani airport assistance unit. The victims appeared relieved when authorities arrived at the house, where police found all five detainees waiting outside.

Fluid leaking from beneath a parked vehicle created a putrid odor that alarmed a building caretaker, who was shocked to discover a woman's decomposed body on the back seat. At noon on May 17, 2025, Pak Kret Police Station received a report of a death inside a vehicle at a parking lot in Ban Mai Subdistrict, Pak Kret District, Nonthaburi Province, and immediately dispatched officers along with volunteers from the Por Tek Tung Foundation and a forensic pathologist. At the scene, police found a Nissan X-Trail registered in Bangkok containing the body of a 37-year-old woman identified as Ms. A (pseudonym) on the back seat in an advanced state of decomposition. She wore an orange t-shirt and black shorts, with yellowish fluid dripping from beneath the vehicle. A charcoal stove was discovered in the back seat area. When questioned, the caretaker stated the vehicle had been parked for a long time. When approaching the car that day, she noticed an intense foul smell, initially thinking it was a dead rat. Observing sticky liquid dripping under the vehicle and peering inside, she discovered the body and immediately called police. Based on evidence at the scene, police initially believe the woman may have been under personal stress and took her own life inside the vehicle, though further investigation continues.

Racing Spirit, organizer of Thailand's premier motorsports events, is launching the TSS The Super Series by B-Quik and B-Quik Thailand Super Series 2026 with its opening round on May 21-24 at Chang International Circuit in Buriram province, offering motorsports fans up-close action under the 'Fuel The Thrill' concept.

The GT Class supercar division will feature an impressive 29 entries competing for the championship, headlined by the TSS Supercar GT3 category where defending champions "Todd" Piti Bhiranyaphakdi and "Bank" Kantsak Kusiri from Singha Motorsport Team Thailand seek to reclaim their title. They face formidable competition from Racing Aurora's Peter Hackett, Black Wolf Motorsport Australia's Benjamin Shoots and Shane Woodman, and B-Quik Absolute Racing's Daniel Bilski paired with Sathaporn Weerachuea.

The TSS Supercar GTM class features a surprise return from "Big Pae" Sandhya Kunpluem of the Government House Racing Team, while brothers Sranom and Saravut Sereethongkul are teaming up to defend their championship under PSC Motorsport. The TSS Supercar GT4 category brings 12 entries from leading teams including Toyota Gazoo Racing Thailand, Toyota Gazoo Racing Indonesia, Wing Hin Motorsports, and AAS Motorsport.

The B-Quik Thailand Super Series 2026 launches with full-strength competition across all categories. The Super Touring class features a jam-packed grid of 32 cars, highlighted by "Andrew" Grasek Koninthorn's return, pairing with Kazuo Tsukamoto in MNR MOTORSPORT and W-TECH by AMS. They'll battle rivals including YK Motorsports, who debuts the all-new rear-wheel-drive Mazda MX-5 (ND).

The Thailand Super Pickup class sets a new record with 39 entries, while rising star Suphatthasn Bunyruang from TOYOTA GR GAZOO ARTO PHC RACING stands out in his Toyota Revo. The Thailand Super Eco class welcomes 22 competitors, with Thanathes Lomwong from Peek Autopic & Riw Tech by Repsol Thailand marked as a standout Thai talent across karting and circuit racing.

The supporting Eighty-Six Challenge Thailand One Make Race features 12 vehicles led by Maprang-Alisa Khunchaung and Luang-Damrong Mahadamnrachagul. Fans can watch trackside or via live streaming on Thailand Super Series' Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram (@ThailandSuperSeries), or visit www.thailandsuperseries.net.

An alcohol-free network has issued a warning to bars running a 'run for beer' campaign where participants who complete a set distance can exchange their results for free beer or drinking privileges. Officials say this violates the law and carries penalties of up to six months imprisonment.

On May 17, 2025, Thira Watchraprani, director of the Alcohol-Free Organizations Network office, expressed concern about the campaign, saying it violates the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act (Amendment 2) B.E. 2568, which was amended and came into effect on November 8, 2024. The law aims to reduce the impact of alcohol consumption and specifically prohibits sales promotions under Section 30 that stimulate drinking through commercial mechanisms such as price reductions, contests, event privileges, aggressive sales, and drinking competitions.

Thira stated that the 'run for beer' campaign violates Section 30(5), which prohibits distributing, providing, or exchanging alcoholic beverages with other products or services, or distributing alcohol as promotional samples that incentivize public consumption. It also includes setting conditions that indirectly force the purchase of alcoholic beverages.

"Setting a condition where runners who complete a certain distance can exchange results for free beer or drinking privileges constitutes a sales promotion," Thira said. "The law imposes criminal penalties of up to six months imprisonment or fines not exceeding 10,000 baht, or both."

Thira noted that the network has been monitoring advertisements and promotions on Instagram, TikTok, X, and Facebook with high share rates. While understanding commercial interests, Thira urged businesses to use alternative marketing methods, as alcoholic beverages are regulated like tobacco and cannot be marketed as freely as other products. He also cited WHO research identifying ethyl alcohol as a Group 1 carcinogen, equivalent to tobacco and processed meat, and criticized using health-related activities to promote beer brands to young runners.

Thira called on business operators to be cautious and urged the public not to share such posts, as they may inadvertently promote illegal activities.

Agriculture Minister Suriya Jungrungruangkit revealed the directives after visiting the Phakdee Rampai Royal Irrigation Canal Project in Chanthaburi's Muang District and reviewing water management reports for Thailand's Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC). Accompanied by Deputy Agriculture Minister Wachraphon Khaokham and Permanent Secretary Winnarojon Suatsongsouk, Suriya emphasized that Thailand faces below-normal rainfall from mid-2025 continuing into 2026 due to climate fluctuations and El Niño effects.

In response, Suriya has ordered the Royal Irrigation Department and all relevant agencies to immediately implement "proactive water management" covering water collection, allocation, and efficient usage to support farmers, residents, and industries. For the EEC region, authorities must ensure adequate water pumping and transfer between canals and reservoirs. All agencies have been instructed to closely monitor rainfall and water conditions while preparing machinery and equipment to assist affected farmers and communities promptly.

Should flooding occur, Suriya directed all agencies to protect critical infrastructure including hospitals, temples, historical sites, and provincial and community facilities with "minimal" damage. In cases of dry spells, the irrigation department will deploy water trucks and pumping equipment to assist affected populations immediately.

"Water is not merely a production cost but the foundation of Thailand's economic infrastructure," Suriya stated. "The EEC must have water security alongside energy and logistics to attract investment."

The government frames this not as a crisis but as "advance preparation" to manage all risks through five measures:

1) Accelerate water storage in reservoirs, community water sources, and medium and small-scale distribution systems for dry spells and droughts 2) Manage water based on priority and location data, integrating with electricity, industrial, and local government agencies 3) Promote efficient water use, especially in agriculture, through precision irrigation systems, soil analysis, crop planning, and climate-smart agriculture technology 4) Monitor and forecast water conditions and crop yields closely to alert farmers and businesses in advance, reducing losses and market volatility 5) Increase "water productivity" so each unit of water generates greater output, income, and added value

Suriya stressed that Thailand must shift from "emergency drought response" to "strategic water management" for long-term food security, economic stability, and investment. "If all sectors collaborate using scientific data and efficient management, Thailand can navigate this climate volatility and turn challenges into opportunities to strengthen agriculture and the economy," he concluded.