The Governor of Mae Hong Son province in northern Thailand has sought stricter rules for tourist tubing on the Pai River, following allegations of tourists sneaking into resort areas to engage in sexual activities, which prompted police reports and considerable criticism online.

After a resort owner in Pai protested about the existing situation of tubing activities along the Pai River, the Governor became aware of the matter. According to the accusations, wine and beer are discreetly offered to tourists while disguised in plastic water bottles to prevent detection.

After their tubing adventures, these tourists, both men and women, would walk around Pai town in their swimsuits. Men often wear one pair of swim briefs, but most women wear two-piece swimsuits or bikinis.

This behavior was considered derogatory to local culture. Recently, there were instances of tourists slipping into resort areas to engage in sexual activities, which prompted police investigations and considerable online criticism.

Following the complaint, provincial governor Chuchip Pongchai requested a meeting of the police and allied authorities on July 16 to explore further tourism restrictions.

The province already restricts the selling of alcohol to tourists who go tubing, which involves floating down a river on inner tubes made of rubber tires. Most people observe the guidelines, but others, including some store owners, break them by concealing the alcohol by pouring it in water bottles.

According to TNA, Pai is one of Northern Thailand’s most popular tourist spots, attracting 40,000 visitors each year and strengthening Thailand’s economy.

Tubing in the Pai River has become a favorite activity among foreigners. However, the governor stated that the attitude of some tourists has jeopardised the province’s image.

Tourists Tubing on Pai River

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Five people were killed and two others badly injured when a pickup truck was hit by a north-bound train at an unguarded railway crossing in Phitchit province on Monday evening.

Phitchit police reported the horrific crash occurred around 6 pm at Moo 1 village in tambon Pak Thang of Muang district of Phitchit.

Police said the 201 passenger train from Bangkok to Phitsanulok approached the crossing, which was unguarded and had no safety barriers.

A four-door pickup truck plates drove across the tracks and into the path of oncoming the train which was was unable to stop or slowdown in time to avoid hitting the pickup truck.

The force of the crash drove the pickup about 30 metres down the railway crossing and off to the side. All passengers on the pickup were thrown from the vehicle.

Three women passengers died immediately and two more passengers died later at Phichit Hospital. Two others including the driver of the pickup were seriously injured.

Police investigators said truck driver Pratya Khongthat, 40, was taking relatives, including a 14-yea-old girl, to a funeral at Wat Ratchangkhwan in tambon Pak Thang, approximately one kilometer from the accident scene.

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Soldiers in Chiang Mai province of northern Thailand have taken one suspect into custody and seized around 1.6 million methamphetamine pills that a group of drug smugglers who were fleeing had left behind in the Fang district.

On the basis of information that drug smugglers would be entering Chiang Mai’s Fang district from Myanmar via a natural border, soldiers from the Chaiyanuparb special operations unit were dispatched to a border location.

At Pha Kha village, a patrol noticed some men walking through a lychee plantation with rucksacks on them. A biker and a pickup truck were standing by to greet them.

The men fled on the cars despite the troops’ calls for them to stop so they could search them. The patrol informed the road checkpoints in the area.

The men ran through one checkpoint without stopping, even in the face of gunfire directed at them. The suspects abandoned their cars and fled as the soldiers pursued them into the grounds of Wat Huai Chanu.

According to arresting officials, 16 rucksacks holding roughly 1.6 million meth pills were found and one individual was apprehended. Seized were the motorcycle and the pickup vehicle, both registered in Chiang Rai.

The drugs’ estimated street worth, according to the authorities, was 240 million baht.

Drug Running in Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai

In northern Thailand, drug smuggling is a major problem that affects the whole area. This region is a component of the Golden Triangle, known for producing methamphetamine and opium.

Because of the difficult terrain and extensive woodlands, smugglers make it difficult for law enforcement to find and apprehend them. They frequently buy off local authorities to ignore their presence, further complicating efforts to execute the law.

Due to Thailand’s porous borders with Myanmar and Laos, smugglers have several points of entry. Subsequently, these substances overtake regional markets and go to adjacent nations, fostering addiction and criminal activity.

Although the Thai government is making more of an effort to eradicate this evil, the issue is pervasive. Local communities frequently find themselves in the middle of the dangers and social problems associated with drug trafficking.

Agencies from both domestic and foreign countries must work together to combat drug smuggling in northern Thailand.

As stated by authorities The terrible impacts of the drug trade will still affect the area if these measures are unsuccessful.