Officials from the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives buried more than 700,000 kilogrammes of smuggled pork meat and entrails in Petchaburi province's Cha Am district yesterday.
According to Minister Chalermchai Sri-on, the 723,786kg of smuggled pork -- worth 123 million baht -- was the largest load of illegal meat ever destroyed by the authorities.
The idea of burying pork came from the World Organization for Animal Health. The method was touted as the safest, cheapest, and most effective eco-friendly method that the authorities can use.
The lot was illegally imported, primarily from Brazil, Germany and Italy, without quality inspection, the minister said, adding that eating the products could put unknowing consumers at risk.
The ministry applies strict measures against pork smugglers to boost the trust of consumers, herders and Thailand's swine housing systems, he said.
According to Dr Somchuan Rattanamangkhalanon, director-general of the Livestock Development Department, authorities seized 1,089,514kg of smuggled meat worth at least 219 million baht last year and charged a total of 42 suspected illegal importers.
Dr Somchuan said the department managed to destroy 179,612kg of the smuggled meat, worth at least 71 million baht.
Meanwhile, 186,116kg of it, worth 25 million baht, is currently undergoing a legal process, Dr Somchuan said.
The smuggled pork issues surfaced on Aug 30, when the Swine Raisers Association of Thailand pleaded with the government to step in.