Makro denies buying fresh pork smuggled from neighbouring countries

Makro, which is operated by CP Extra Plc, issued a statement on Wednesday denying that it has been buying pork from Wealthy & Healthy Foods Co Ltd.

The company’s president Wirat (last name withheld), 69, and his son Thanakrit, 42, were arrested at Suvarnabhumi Airport on Tuesday.

The pair had been linked to a smuggling ring that shipped in thousands of tonnes of frozen pork from a neighbouring country between 2021 and early this year.

Reports say the father and son are cooperating in the investigation to trace the origins of a recent shipment and other details of the smuggling operation, Department of Special Investigation (DSI) director-general Pol Major Suriya Singhakamol said on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, in its statement, Makro said it had stopped purchasing pork from this company since mid-last year after realising that the product did not meet its hygiene and quality standards.

It also stopped purchasing pig liver from the firm, the statement said, adding that the purchase orders used to make these allegations were old ones.

Makro said it has been working hard to ensure that all its 157 branches nationwide sell good quality products whose origins can be verified. It added that cooperating with farmers is part of its operation and that it disagrees with any illegal actions that may hurt farmers like smuggling.