Mueang Phuket District Office reported that it had received complaints from local residents on Tuesday (July 14) alleging that a group of people had cleared forest land, cut down trees and built houses in Soi Khuan Ton, Moo 2, Karon.
A multi-agency task force was sent to inspect the site. The operation involved officers from the Mueang Phuket District’s Narai Special Operations Unit, the Volunteer Defence Corps (OrSor), Forest Protection Units 1 and 2, and the Phuket Provincial Office or the Agricultural Land Reform Office (SorPorKor, or ‘ALRO’).
Officials said the inspection found evidence of land clearing, the construction of eight houses and animal enclosures within the Nakkerd Hills National Forest Reserve.
After verifying the site coordinates, officers confirmed the area was located within protected national forest reserve land and forest land covered by the Forestry Act.
Nine people were arrested in two separate cases.
In the first case, three suspects were arrested while constructing a house. Officers seized a metal cutting grinder, a concrete drill, a welding machine and a chainsaw. Officials said an additional charge of trespassing would also be filed against the employer.
In the second case, six suspects were arrested after admitting they owned and lived in houses built on the land, officials said.
All nine suspects were charged with offences under the National Forest Reserve Act and the Forestry Act.
Authorities also seized the allegedly encroached land, comprising 1 rai, 3 ngan and 22 square wah within the Nakkerd Hills National Forest Reserve, along with a further 4 rai and 76 square wah of protected forest land.
The suspects and seized equipment were handed over to investigators at Karon Police Station for legal proceedings.
Mueang Phuket District said it would continue strict enforcement against encroachment on national forest reserves, protected forest areas and public land, and urged the public to report suspected violations to help protect Phuket’s natural resources.