The Department of Industrial Works in Thailand has announced that it will be implementing more stringent regulations on the use of cyanide following public concerns about the ease of obtaining the potentially lethal chemical. The move follows a high-profile case involving actress Preechaya Pongthananikorn, who purchased cyanide from the same company as an alleged serial killer. Preechaya admitted to buying the chemical to poison monitor lizards that frequently entered her home, but now faces a possible jail term of up to three years and/or a fine of up to 300,000 baht for abusing the chemical.
Cyanide is a potent chemical that can act quickly and interfere with the body’s ability to use oxygen, and it can take the form of a colorless gas or liquid, such as hydrogen cyanide or cyanogen chloride, or as a solid crystal, such as sodium cyanide or potassium cyanide. Thailand doesn’t produce cyanide and imports it for industrial use. Currently, 14 companies import potassium cyanide into the country, with over 80 tons sold to more than 2,000 small-scale users per year. However, the ease with which individuals can purchase the chemical online has raised concerns.
To address these concerns, importers may soon be required to produce lists of buyers before shipments are authorized, and small-scale buyers may need to register themselves for cyanide purchases and declare their intended use. Under current rules, small-scale users do not require a permit for cyanide possession unless they use more than 100 kilos within a six-month period. They are also not required to declare how they intend to use the chemical in most cases. E-commerce platforms may also be asked to cooperate in preventing the online distribution of cyanide.
