Bangkok Post reported that the Department of Special Investigation has raided two warehouses and a steel rod plant in Bangkok and Samut Sakhon provinces, accused of producing substandard steel rods for distribution nationwide.
Mr Tharit Pengdit head of DSI and Mr Pol Maj Suriya Singhakamol commissioner of the DSI’s Bureau of Consumer Protection and Environment Crime said that the raids followed many complaints about substandard steel rods, which have been used in the construction industry and pose a threat to public safety.
The DSI started its investigation in November 2011 and raided the outlets late on January 25th 2012. The raids took place at warehouses on Rama II Road in Chom Thong district. The authorities found 39,000 substandard steel rods weighing about 108 tonnes.
Another warehouse belongs to Worapaibul Metal Co and stands on the same road in Bang Khunthian district. They found 55,920 substandard steel rods weighing about 73 tonnes. The third target was alleged to be the production base.
The property belongs to BKK Steel Mill Co in tambon Phanthai Norasing of Muang district, Samut Sakhon. There authorities said they found 13,900 substandard steel rods weighing 109 tonnes. The seized rods weigh altogether about 290 tonnes and their market value is about THB 16 million.
Mr Tharit said that the rods were made from used and re melted steel and did not meet standard sizes. They were sold at discount prices, which gave the manufacturers an unfair market advantage.
Mr Pol Maj Suriya said that the company and the wholesalers supplied the steel rods to buyers nationwide. He added that “BKK Steel produced steel rods worth about THB 20 million each night. In the morning, it took them quickly to warehouses. The company has been in business for a long time. Investigations over the past three to four months found influential people and construction material operators are behind the network. They will be exposed because the problem has widespread impacts and poses a danger to people nationwide.”
Mr Tharit urged people to inform the DSI of any night shift steel production work which looked suspicious. He said that “We want to stop substandard steel being used to build houses and infrastructure. Otherwise, buildings can collapse and harm people.”
(Sourced from www.bangkokpost.com)
