Overview

• Thai Customs officials confiscated 238 tons of mislabeled electronic waste from the United States during a routine inspection at Bangkok Port on May 14, 2025.
• The shipment, declared as mixed metal scrap, contained hazardous circuit boards and violated Thailand's 2020 import ban on e-waste, which was expanded in February 2025.
• Authorities plan to press charges for false declarations, illegal importation, and an alleged attempt to re-export the waste back to its origin.
• Investigations are underway into two suspected processing factories in Samut Sakhon province that may be linked to the shipment.
• The seizure highlights global concerns over surging e-waste volumes, projected to reach 82 million tons by 2030, and the associated health and environmental risks posed by improper disposal.