More than 60 phayung logs (Siamese rosewood) worth several millions of baht were seized and a man arrested when a pickup truck modified to sell cloth plunged into a paddy field in Khun Han district in Si Sa Ket in the early hours of Sunday.
Neramit Siriwet, 38, a Roi Et resident who was sitting in front of the pickup, was arrested by a team of forestry officials, soldiers and police who had chased the vehicle at about 2am on Sunday. The driver managed to flee.
Some mannequins were found on the top of the tarpaulin-covered pickup truck which carried an Amnat Charoen licence plate. It was modified to sell cloth.
When authorities pulled down the tarpaulin, they found a total of 67 illegally-felled phayung logs.
Mr Neramit claimed he did not know where the logs had been smuggled from. He was only waiting for the driver on a road and was paid 3,000 baht to accompany him. The driver was identified only as Duang, a native of Amnat Charoen.
The suspect was held in police custody until legal action is decided.
The seizure of the logs came after the arresting team tried to stop the pickup truck in tambon Huay Chan in Khun Han district, but the driver sped past. He later lost control of his vehicle and plunged into the roadside paddy field.