On June 11, authorities in Rayong province seized more than 74,000 illegally modified tires from a warehouse hidden in a rubber plantation, following reports of worn-out tires being altered and reintroduced into the market, posing potential safety risks to consumers.
The warehouse, located in Makham Khu subdistrict of Nikhom Phatthana district, was raided after a public complaint led to an investigation by the Ministry of Industry. The operation uncovered that the tires had been deliberately altered, with sidewalls ground down to obscure identifying details such as brand names and manufacturing dates.
An estimated 74,504 tires were found at the site, each valued at approximately 3,000 baht, placing the total worth of the confiscated goods at over 223 million baht.
During the inspection, officials discovered a portable office container on-site containing four transfer documents, which named LLIT (Thailand) Co., Ltd. as the sender. Additional evidence included a notebook with inventory records and handheld grinding tools.
Fourteen workers, primarily from Myanmar with some from China, were taken into custody. According to their statements, the warehouse had been leased by a Thai national to a Chinese operator who has since left the country. Investigators believe the majority of the tires originated from LLIT’s facility in Si Racha district, Chonburi province.
The Provincial Industry Office has since filed a formal complaint against LLIT (Thailand) Co., Ltd. and other involved parties. The investigation was led by Thitipas Chotidetchaichanan, head of the Ministry of Industry’s enforcement team “Team Sudsoi,” on assignment from Industry Minister Akanat Promphan.
