Eleven Arrested for Illegal Gold Mining and Wildlife Hunting in Kanchanaburi
KANCHANABURI — Authorities have arrested eleven individuals involved in illegal gold mining and wildlife hunting in the Pilokki forest area of Thong Pha Phum district, following a joint operation by the Department of Conservation Area 3, Thong Pha Phum National Park officials, and the Surasi Task Force.
Authorities Discover Extensive Mining Operations
The raid, conducted on March 29, followed reports of illegal activities within the conservation zone. Officials navigated through difficult terrain, including streams and hills, to reach the remote mining site.
At the scene, authorities found evidence of large-scale gold mining operations, including:
✅ Multiple deep mining holes (10-15 meters)
✅ Motorcycles used for transportation
✅ Mining tools and equipment
Officers set up an ambush and encountered a group of around 20 miners. While 11 suspects were captured, others managed to escape into the dense forest.
Suspects Found with Weapons and Wildlife Remains
Preliminary investigations identified the arrested individuals as Karen and Myanmar nationals. They were found in possession of:
🔹 Mining tools and gold sieves
🔹 Plastic and fertilizer sacks filled with soil
🔹 Hammocks and headlamps
Authorities also discovered a .22 caliber rifle with 45 rounds of ammunition and the remains of protected wildlife, including barking deer, civets, frogs, and softshell turtles—suggesting illegal hunting alongside mining activities.
Officials Vow to Intensify Crackdowns
The suspects and confiscated evidence have been handed over to Pilok Police Station for legal proceedings.
Thong Pha Phum National Park chief, Yutthaphong Damsrisuk, emphasized that illegal gold mining and wildlife hunting pose severe threats to the ecosystem. Authorities will continue patrolling high-risk areas to protect conservation zones from further exploitation.
This latest crackdown follows a similar raid in Phichit province in January, where forestry police arrested a Vietnamese man and five Thai nationals for operating an illegal gold mine on Panompa Mountain.
