Villagers Catch Truck Dumping 100 Tons Toxic Waste in Sa Kaeo

Villagers and officials in Sa Kaeo province caught a truck secretly hauling industrial waste to dump at an old landfill in the early hours of October 23. The driver, identified as Surachet or 'Toe,' was arrested along with his trailer truck loaded with twisted copper wire scraps weighing 46 tons total, and a mobile phone used to coordinate the operation.

During questioning, Toe stated he was contacted by a fellow driver to pick up goods at a warehouse in Khao Hin Son, Phanom Sarakham district, Chachoengsao province. A man of foreign appearance directed the loading of waste onto the truck. He then received phone calls and location pins instructing him to transport the waste to the landfill in Sa Kaeo, with orders to change drop-off points and wait at a gas station to avoid detection before being caught.

CCTV footage from villagers in Moo 14, Nong Wa, Khao Chakan district recorded two trucks leaving the Sa Khwan route on the morning of October 22 before heading out of the area. The route is believed to originate from Phanom Sarakham, Chachoengsao, via Highway 359, turning at Ban Nam Sap intersection, passing through Ban Klong Kan Chor in Sa Khwan and Ban Noi, Moo 14, Nong Wa, Khao Chakan — all captured on CCTV — before entering the Ban Mai Praiwan area.

At 8:00 a.m. on October 23, Sa Kaeo provincial industry officials inspected the landfill and found nearly 100 tons of newly dumped industrial waste, including piles of twisted copper wire and various plastic sheets, dumped in the Ban Mai Praiwan area, Moo 7, Sa Khwan subdistrict, Mueang Sa Kaeo district — estimated at 4-5 dump truck loads. Excavator tracks were found pushing waste into the flooded lower section of the pond, raising concerns among residents about groundwater contamination.

Kamnan Somboon Sae-ung of Sa Khwan subdistrict revealed villagers had gathered to monitor the site after spotting suspicious vehicles parked at a gas station in the evening, alerting district officials who joined the stakeout, anticipating a midnight dumping run — leading to the arrest.

Sa Kaeo Provincial Industry Office and Provincial Natural Resources and Environment Office collected samples of the twisted copper wire and suspicious waste for laboratory testing in Chonburi to confirm pollutant types and assess environmental risks.

This 10-rai former mining pond has faced prior complaints of illegal industrial waste dumping. On May 28, officials collected waste samples for analysis. Results from the Eastern Factory Pollution Warning and Research Center in Chonburi revealed heavy metal contamination including cadmium, lead, mercury, and selenium, with copper levels exceeding some standards. The waste falls under Hazardous Substance Type 3.

Previously, the Sa Kaeo Provincial Industry Office filed charges against Thaworn Kongkaew, the landowner, for possession of Hazardous Substance Type 3.