Relief trucks dispatched to help flood victims near Bangkok

BANGKOK, November 10 (TNA) - Thailand’s Commerce Ministry on Thursday sent off trucks carrying bagged rice and other relief items for flood victims in Bangkok's suburban Nonthaburi and Nakhon Pathom Provinces. Deputy Commerce Minister Poom Sarapol presided over a ceremony to deliver and to release the caravan of flood-relief packs, including 20,000 four-kilogram rice bags, 10,000 each for the flooded provinces. Poom said that his ministry has, meanwhile, assigned special squads to pin down hoarding and profiteering activities by traders against consumers in flood-hit areas on the daily basis, warning that those found guilty of the charges will face a maximum jail term of seven years each and/or a fine of 140,000 baht. According to the deputy commerce minister, local consumers are also welcome to lodge their complaints on the illegal acts with his ministry's Department of Internal Trade, through its hotline 1569 or its provincial offices in their respective areas. (TNA)