TRAT -- The Marine and Coastal Resources Department has retaken about 228 rai of mangrove forest land which had been encroached on by investors.
About 50 police and military personnel took part in the operation launched at 10am on Wednesday by the department's Chalam Khao (white shark) unit, the unit's commander, Ratchai Pornpa, said.
The Chalam Khao Operations Unit had been set up specifically to combat illegal encroachment on state land by investors who used it for shrimp farms, resorts, oil palm plantations and swallow breeding areas for the collection of bird nests, he said.
The 228 rai of seized mangrove forest is in five tambons of Muang district.
The encroashment was most rampant at Moo 8 village of tambon Wang Krachae. The encroachers included villagers and local politicians.
"The land seized today will be reforested and clearly defined to prevent a repetition of the croachment. Encroachers will be subject tough legal action," Mr Ratchai said.