Nine arrested over alleged forest encroachment in Karon

Nine people have been arrested after authorities found eight houses and animal enclosures allegedly built on protected forest land in Karon, Mueang Phuket District Office said.

The district office said it received complaints from local residents on Tuesday, July 14, alleging that a group had cleared forest land, cut down trees and built houses in Soi Khuan Ton, Moo 2, Karon.

A multi-agency task force inspected the site, involving officers from the Mueang Phuket District’s Narai Special Operations Unit, the Volunteer Defence Corps, Forest Protection Units 1 and 2, and the Phuket Provincial Office or Agricultural Land Reform Office, known as ALRO.

Officials said the inspection found evidence of land clearing, eight houses and animal enclosures within the Nakkerd Hills National Forest Reserve. After verifying the coordinates, they confirmed that the site was within protected national forest reserve land and forest land covered by the Forestry Act.

Three suspects were arrested in the first case while allegedly constructing a house. Officers seized a metal cutting grinder, concrete drill, welding machine and chainsaw. Officials said an additional trespassing charge would also be filed against the employer.

In the second case, six suspects were arrested after allegedly admitting that they owned and lived in houses built on the land. All nine suspects were charged under the National Forest Reserve Act and the Forestry Act.

Authorities seized the allegedly encroached land, comprising 1 rai, 3 ngan and 22 square wah within the Nakkerd Hills National Forest Reserve, along with a further 4 rai and 76 square wah of protected forest land.

The suspects and seized equipment were handed over to investigators at Karon Police Station for legal proceedings. Mueang Phuket District said it would continue enforcing laws against encroachment on national forest reserves, protected forest areas and public land, and urged the public to report suspected violations.