The operation, led by the taskforce’s chief Chaiwat Limlikhit-askorn, went to examine the park’s boundary using GPS technology before learning that a large plot totalling around 375 rai of the pristine forest area had been take over by at least 12 big investors. The land was pending ownership verification after many poor people claimed to have lived in the forest before the area was declared a national park. As such, the land could be taken back immediately, and those investors would have to face charges of forest encroachment.

The team, which included officials of the Chao Mai National Park and from the Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Suppression Division, also found irregularities in land deed documents issued for another plot, which measured nearly 50 rai. They were already allotted for real estate, and the team will be seeking charges against the land agent.

The team last week conducted a similar operation in Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest Complex, a World Heritage Site, where it managed to seize some plots found to be encroaching on the heritage site. The move was seen as an attempt to crack down on wrongdoings ahead of the World Heritage meeting this week.