By Thai Newsroom Reporters
THE SWINE RAISERS ASSOCIATION of Thailand today (Jan.23) pressed the government to bust the alleged distribution of smuggled pork which is currently oversupplying domestic markets.
Sitthipan Thanakiatpinyo, head of the Swine Raisers Association of Thailand, said over 60 million kilogrammes of smuggled pork was believed to be currently flooding the domestic markets nationwide, causing a sustained decline in the prices at the expense of the pig raisers.
The smuggled meat which had been mostly imported in containers aboard mercantile ships and unloaded at Laem Chabang port in Chonburi had finally found its way to the domestic markets in all parts of the country, according to the association chief.
In particular, Sitthipan called on the government to have the Department of Special Investigation resume investigation into the pork smuggling which may have allegedly involved politically connected persons.
The association chief said the anti-smuggling missions earlier carried out by the authorities had only been belated and ineffective and insisted the government see to it that all pork smugglers be ultimately and promptly arrested in effort to help alleviate the pig raisers’ sustained losses.
The prices of pork at the domestic food markets have dropped considerably in a sustained oversupply situation directly caused by the pork smuggling whilst the pig raisers currently sell their product for a range of 70 to 76 baht a kilo, compared to their production costs amounting up to 80 baht a kilo, he said.
The pig raisers who had been earlier considerably affected by an Asian swine flu situation are still operating at loss, he said.
Major discount stores in Bangkok and the provinces had been earlier suspected of supplying their customers with smuggled pork.
The pork smuggling scandal had earlier prompted a surprise transfer of Suriya Singhakamon as DSI secretary-general shortly after he had conducted a raid on one of the discount stores on the outskirts of the capital. The smuggling racket had been allegedly linked with certain politicians including one at ministerial level.
CAPTIONS:
Top: Livestock Development Department and Mukdahan officials getting ready to bury two tonnes of smuggled pork earlier this month.
Front Page: Over 69 tonnes of smuggled pork seized from a cold storage in Nakhon Pathom a few days ago. Both photos: Thai Rath
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