NACC Bueng Kan launches operation to crack down on illegal sand dredging in the Mekong River basin

NACC Bueng Kan launches operation to crack down on illegal sand dredging in the Mekong River basin

The Office of National Anti-Corruption Commission's Bueng Kan Provincial Office (NACC Bueng Kan Office) in collaboration with various local authorities launched an operation to crack down on illegal sand dredging in the Mekong River basin.

On June 23, 2026, Mr. Thanyapat Pramuanwit, acting as the Director of NACC Bueng Kan Office, assigned the corruption prevention group, to work with relevant agencies including the Bueng Kan Provincial Administration Office, the Bueng Kan Provincial Industry Office, the Nong Khai Regional Marine Department, the Bueng Kan Provincial Public Works and Town Planning Office, the Bueng Kan Provincial Police, the Bueng Kan Provincial Natural Resources and Environment Office, the Bueng Kan Provincial Local Administration Promotion Office, the Bueng Kan Provincial Land Office, and the Dong Bang Subdistrict Administrative Organisation, to inspect the enforcement of laws regarding sand dredging and natural resource activities in the Area 4 region, specifically in Bueng Khong Long District, Bueng Kan Province.

The application for sand dredging permits involves several laws, requiring sand dredging operators to obtain multiple licenses, each with different approval processes and related agencies. This may lead operators to avoid applying for permits and proceed with unauthorised sand dredging, as well as potentially paying bribes to relevant officials in exchange for not prosecuting them when violations are discovered.

Furthermore, it was found that the inspection, supervision, and monitoring aspects to ensure compliance with regulations and laws are not sufficiently effective, lacking integration between relevant government agencies and government officials. In addition, the law stipulates a compensation fee for sand dredging permits of no more than 28 baht per cubic meter, which may not reflect the economic conditions where the market value of sand is often much higher than the compensation fee.

The field inspection to monitor and inspect the enforcement of laws has the following objectives:

1. To proactively monitor and inspect conduct and prevent government officials from abusing their authority to demand, accept, or agree to accept bribes from sand dredging operators in Mekong River Basin.
2. To analyse shortcomings and legal loopholes in the approval, licensing, and enforcement processes that do not meet Service Level Agreements (SLAs) in order to make policy recommendations to close loopholes that increase the risk of corruption in this area.
3. To integrate the management of natural resources and coordinate cooperation between inspection and regulatory agencies and to improve the efficiency of collecting national revenue and local taxes accurately and in accordance with the law.
4. To promote the public disclosure of location coordinates and license status so that citizens can participate in verifying the status of businesses in the area.
5. To reduce complaints regarding the exercise of discretion in approval and licensing, and to promote the effectiveness of law enforcement, as well as improve work processes to prevent the risk of corruption, accepting and giving bribes.

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