The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives is taking legal action against three more companies for document forgery to import illegal pork and beef.
Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Thamanat Prompow and relevant agencies yesterday held a press conference to provide an update on progress in the suppression of illegal pork imports.
Ramped-up inspection frequency has been the department's first-choice tactic.
These have been carried out by a Phaya Nakkarat special task force established specifically to address illegal imports of farm and fishery products.
The unannounced inspections led to the discovery of smuggled pork and beef hidden among fishery products at Lam Chabang Port in Chon Buri in December.
According to Capt Thamanat, more than 20 cases of document forgery for imports have been filed with the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) since.
On Jan 14, the special force filed a report for the CIB to prosecute Sikhantin Trading Co Ltd, Smile Top K Enterprise Co Ltd and Boriboon Trading Limited Partnership over discoveries of 5.9 million kg of beef and pork that came with documents only valid for salmon and croaker fish imports.
The forged documents caused more than 1.4 billion baht in damage, Capt Thamanat said.
Fisheries Department director-general Bancha Sukkaew said the department has set up a centre against wrongful import-exports and found irregularities in Sikhantin Trading Co Ltd's import documents.
The aquatic animal health certificates that were submitted by the company were officially confirmed as a forgery by the alleged issuer in Brazil.
Eakkarak Limsunggas, deputy secretary-general of the Anti-Money Laundering Office (Amlo), said the investigation into these companies' financial transactions is underway. If any irregularity is detected, a civil case will be filed against them.
Col Rawirak Sattabut, chief of the Phaya Nakkarat special task force, said more than 400 similar cases allegedly involving nine other companies are under investigation. Progress on each will be disclosed later.