Latest news with #NationThailand
South China Morning Post
22-05-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Bangkok named among worst cities for tourist scams as taxi fraud soars, report warns
A recent report has identified Bangkok as one of the worst cities for tourists to get scammed, primarily due to the prevalence of taxi and car rental frauds, which make up nearly half of all scams reported by visitors. In addition to the Thai capital, the Mastercard Economics Institute report also highlighted other cities known for targeting unsuspecting travellers. These include Cancun in Mexico, Hanoi in Vietnam, and Dhaka in Bangladesh, according to media outlet Nation Thailand. Published last Tuesday, the report, which did not rank the cities in any order, emphasised that the tourism sector was one of the most susceptible industries to fraudulent activities. Alarmingly, the incidence of fraud within travel agencies and tour booking services is four times greater than the average seen across other sectors, underscoring the urgent need for vigilance among travellers. Scams surged during peak travel seasons, with fraud rates rising over 18 per cent at summer destinations and 28 per cent at winter ones. The nature of scams differs by location, the report noted. Issues with taxis and car rentals account for a mere 2 per cent of reported fraud cases in Hong Kong and Barcelona, Spain, but this figure jumps to 66 per cent in Jakarta, Indonesia and 48 per cent in Bangkok. A traveller with an instant camera takes a photo in Thailand. Photo: Shutterstock 'In some destinations, you might find that most fraud originates from the travel sector and tour companies, while in other cities, fraud might occur in other businesses, such as food services,' David Mann, Chief Economist for Asia-Pacific at the Mastercard Economics Institute, told CNBC on May 16.
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Thailand warns teenagers about deadly ‘zombie cigarettes'
Authorities in Thailand have warned teenagers in the country of 'zombie cigarettes' laced with etomidate, a sedative that causes severe drowsiness and slows breathing. Popular in the capital Bangkok's Thonglor district, the synthetic drugs are known to pose serious health risks. They may induce unconsciousness and even death. Anukul Prueksanusak, deputy spokesman for the Prime Minister's Office, warned that drug traffickers were producing new synthetic drugs to entice existing as well as new users. Authorities warned teenagers that 'zombie cigarettes' were falsely marketed as safe or harmless and urged the public not to be misled. Beyond entertainment venues, the illegal products were reportedly sold online and in social settings, often promoted as relaxation aids, according to Nation Thailand. 'Zombie cigarettes' contain etomidate, a medical sedative that can cause extreme drowsiness, slowed breathing, low blood pressure, confusion, and even fatal unconsciousness. The misuse of etomidate as a recreational drug has been on the rise in recent years. It's usually mixed with electronic cigarettes, 'zombie cigarettes', due to its sedative effects. Authorities warned that mixing e-cigarettes with drugs like etomidate could increase health risks, potentially causing long-term adrenal and muscle issues. Mr Prueksanusak underlined the unknown dangers of these products and their potential to be fatal. Some e-cigarettes contain etomidate, & smokers could die as the substance is used in anaesthetic procedure, warns Deputy Chief of the Dept of Medical Services. This type of e-cigarette is known as "zombie cigarette" & advertised as inducing relaxation. #Thailand #ecigarette — Khaosod English (@KhaosodEnglish) February 21, 2025 Some governments have reclassified etomidate as a controlled narcotic due to rising cases of abuse. In November, Taiwan upgraded etomidate to a Category 2 narcotic, criminalising its possession and use. Hong Kong announced earlier this year that etomidate and its analogues – metomidate, propoxate, isopropoxate – would be classified as dangerous drugs under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, effective 14 February. Possession or consumption would carry a maximum seven-year prison sentence and a HK$1m (£100,000) fine, while trafficking and manufacturing could lead to life imprisonment and a HK$5m (£500,000) fine, according to a statement by the Chinese city's government.
The Independent
25-02-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Thailand warns teenagers about deadly ‘zombie cigarettes'
Authorities in Thailand have warned teenagers in the country of 'zombie cigarettes' laced with etomidate, a sedative that causes severe drowsiness and slows breathing. Popular in the capital Bangkok 's Thonglor district, the synthetic drugs are known to pose serious health risks. They may induce unconsciousness and even death. Anukul Prueksanusak, deputy spokesman for the Prime Minister's Office, warned that drug traffickers were producing new synthetic drugs to entice existing as well as new users. Authorities warned teenagers that 'zombie cigarettes' were falsely marketed as safe or harmless and urged the public not to be misled. Beyond entertainment venues, the illegal products were reportedly sold online and in social settings, often promoted as relaxation aids, according to Nation Thailand. 'Zombie cigarettes' contain etomidate, a medical sedative that can cause extreme drowsiness, slowed breathing, low blood pressure, confusion, and even fatal unconsciousness. The misuse of etomidate as a recreational drug has been on the rise in recent years. It's usually mixed with electronic cigarettes, 'zombie cigarettes', due to its sedative effects. Authorities warned that mixing e-cigarettes with drugs like etomidate could increase health risks, potentially causing long-term adrenal and muscle issues. Mr Prueksanusak underlined the unknown dangers of these products and their potential to be fatal. Some governments have reclassified etomidate as a controlled narcotic due to rising cases of abuse. In November, Taiwan upgraded etomidate to a Category 2 narcotic, criminalising its possession and use. Hong Kong announced earlier this year that etomidate and its analogues – metomidate, propoxate, isopropoxate – would be classified as dangerous drugs under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, effective 14 February. Possession or consumption would carry a maximum seven-year prison sentence and a HK$1m (£100,000) fine, while trafficking and manufacturing could lead to life imprisonment and a HK$5m (£500,000) fine, according to a statement by the Chinese city's government.
