On January 5, Mr. Ekanat Promphan, Minister of Industry, revealed that an inspection team led by Ms. Thitiphat Chotidechachainun, head of the ministerial task force, and Mr. Ekaniti Romyanon, Inspector-General of the Ministry of Industry, conducted a raid on CHH Recycle Co., Ltd. in Samut Sakhon. The operation was supported by Pol. Col. Apisan Chairat of the Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Division (NED).
The investigation uncovered over 1,200 tons of illegally stored hazardous electronic waste, unauthorized operations, and non-compliant electronic power supplies lacking standard certification (TISI). Some of the seized items were suspected to originate from T&T Waste Management 2017 Co., Ltd. in Prachinburi, a company previously shut down by the Ministry of Industry in September 2024 for violations of the Factory Act of 1992.
Mr. Ekanat stated that the Samut Sakhon Industry Office invoked Section 37 of the Factory Act to order an immediate halt to CHH Recycle's operations and seized all evidence. The company faces multiple charges under the Factory Act, including:
- Operating an unauthorized factory (Category 3)
- Punishable by up to 2 years imprisonment, a fine of up to 200,000 baht, or both (Section 50).
- Modifying machinery without notification
- Punishable by a fine of up to 20,000 baht (Section 51).
- Possessing hazardous substances without authorization
- Punishable by up to 2 years imprisonment, a fine of up to 200,000 baht, or both (Section 50).
- Distributing non-certified power supplies
- Punishable under Section 55 by up to 6 months imprisonment, a fine of up to 500,000 baht, or both.
Additionally, authorities are pressing charges for illegally relocating or destroying seized items, which carries penalties of at least 2 years imprisonment and fines starting at 40,000 baht.