The Narcotics Suppression Operations Center of the Royal Thai Police (NSOC-RTP) initiated a comprehensive nationwide operation to raid and dismantle drug networks on Thursday, June 27, 2024. This large-scale effort involved collaboration between Provincial Police Regions 1-9, the Metropolitan Police Bureau, the Narcotics Suppression Bureau, and the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB), along with other related agencies.
Supervised by Pol. Lt. Gen. Samran Nuanma, Deputy Commissioner General of the Royal Thai Police and Deputy Director of NSOC-RTP in charge of counter-narcotics, the operation commenced at dawn. Following the raids, a debriefing was held where Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin received a report from Pol. Gen. Kittirat Panpetch, Deputy Commissioner General of the Royal Thai Police.
The operation yielded significant results: law enforcement officials searched 2,523 locations across the country, including 846 drug trafficking networks. Authorities arrested 131 suspects, executed 1,617 arrest warrants related to drug cases, and seized substantial quantities of narcotics and weapons. The confiscated items included 4,784,018 methamphetamine pills, 590.83 kg of crystal meth (ice), 1.22 kg of ketamine, 73.43 kg of heroin, 45,439 ecstasy pills, 196 firearms, and assets valued at 327.78 million baht.
Chiang Mai Province topped the list of methamphetamine seizures among Thailand’s 76 provinces, with Governor Nirat Pongsittaworn reporting the confiscation of 108 million pills since last October. Nationwide, over 500 million methamphetamine pills have been seized in the same period.
The Royal Thai Police have pledged to continue their intensified efforts against drug trafficking, particularly by targeting small dealers within communities and intercepting shipments from border areas to inner regions. Statistics from the past nine months, from October 2023 to June 2024, show a marked increase in the arrests and seizures:
- Medium-sized drug networks: 208 cases (an increase of 40%).
- Large drug networks: 171 cases (an increase of 64%).
- Network leaders/supporters: 1,337 cases (an increase of 70%).
- Suspects with outstanding warrants: 3,050 warrants (an increase of 47%).
- Methamphetamine seizures: 738.5 million pills (an increase of 113%).
The total value of assets seized and frozen during this period amounted to 8.648 billion baht ($234 million).
Following the debriefing, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin emphasized the critical nature of the drug problem, urging officials from various agencies to work collaboratively and efficiently. He highlighted the need for improved communication and resource sharing among administration, military, and police to address the issue effectively.
“The government is committed to providing full support to address equipment or manpower shortages,” the Prime Minister stated. He also noted the unchanged price and high demand for methamphetamine, calling for continuous and diligent efforts, especially in border areas.
In a related development, Deputy Minister of Finance Julapun Amornvivat, alongside officials from the Customs Department and Immigration Bureau, announced the interception of illegal narcotics trafficking worth over 45 million baht. Notable seizures included:
- June 21: 415 grams of cocaine from a South African passenger at Suvarnabhumi Airport.
- June 22: 13,850 methamphetamine pills disguised as milk powder in a parcel bound for South Korea.
- June 26: 2 kg of methamphetamine hidden in a suitcase from a Thai passenger bound for the Maldives.
Additionally, the Customs Department reported significant cannabis smuggling attempts destined for Singapore, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands, involving over 290 kg of marijuana with a total estimated value of over 10.8 million baht.
From October 1, 2023, to June 26, 2024, the Customs Department reported 101 drug seizure cases with a combined value exceeding 615.74 million baht.
