Acting PM affirms anti-drug stance
Speaking on the national TV programme Okadthai ("Thai Opportunity") on Sunday, Mr Phumtham said tackling the country's drug epidemic is one of the government's top priorities. He also promised to address the problem with sustainable solutions, instead of temporary measures.
He echoed sentiments voiced by former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and suspended PM Paetongtarn, saying illegal drugs are a major obstacle to national development, as it hinders economic growth at the grassroots level.
The acting prime minister said he has received complaints from several community leaders who claimed many local officials — from district chiefs to provincial governors — are complicit in the drug trade.
"People are aware of what's going on. They wonder why [those officials] can continue to claim that they don't know, when we all do," he said.
He admitted that enforcement has been a problem in the past, with those in power failing to decisively act on known offenders.
'From now on, if I visit an area and see a problem, I'll immediately order those officials to be transferred elsewhere. I did the same when tackling call-centre scams. I removed the police chiefs in three districts in Tak for allegedly backing illegal casinos,' said Mr Phumtham, who is also the Interior Minister.
'If I see negligence or complicity, they'll be removed first, then they'll face legal action. I believe this approach will bring real change.'
He also said the government is working with Interpol to track regional kingpins and disrupt their financial activities.
In addition, he said, the government has launched a number of campaigns to stop drugs from being trafficked across borders, such as the 'Seal Stop Safe' campaign, which targets drug smugglers at the nation's borderswith Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia.
He promised to step up border patrols and deploy advanced surveillance tools, including CCTV and thermal drones, to monitor routes used by traffickers.
'I will visit each area without announcement in advance. If I see good work, I'll support it. If I see failure, there will be consequences, regardless of rank.
"Drug suppression is now a national priority, and we must act accordingly,' he said.
He called for local communities to support the government's effort to combat drug smuggling, citing its benefits for the local economy.
"As long as our bureaucratic mechanisms aren't being exploited to commit crime, we can solve these problems," he said.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Bangkok Post
a day ago
- Bangkok Post
Thai govt condemns Cambodia for grave war crime
Acting Thai Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai on Friday condemned Cambodia for committing serious war crime by firing at Thai communities and hospitals and urged the world to join the condemnation while martial law imposition was expanded. In a statement that Mr Phumtham read at Government House, he said Cambodia was attacking Thailand and it was very disappointing that Cambodia opened fire although Thailand had been patient and chosen peaceful solutions in accordance with the principles of international laws and humanitarianism. He said that Cambodia seriously violated international laws and humanitarianism by atttacking Thai hospitals and communities which were more than 20 kilometres away from the border. 'That killed 13 Thai civilians who included children, women and elderly citizens and greatly damaged peopole's properties. It is considered as grave war crime,' Mr Phumtham said. According to him, the Thai foreign affairs minister on Thursday informed the United Nations secretary-general and the UN Security Council of 'the indiscriminate attacks, especially those on innocient people'. The minister also urged the world community to join the condemnation against 'the inhumane act'. Mr Phumtham said that the Thai armed forces limited their retaliations at military targets in Cambodia and based the actions on self-defence in compliance with international laws. He also said that about 100,000 Thai people were evacuated from affected areas and the government asked all airlines to operate special flights to bring Thai people from Cambodia back to Thailand safely. He said that ministers would visit the affected northeastern provinces of Buri Ram, Si Sa Ket, Surin and Ubon Ratchathani provinces on Saturday to give moral support to locals and guarantee their safety. He emphasised that border incidents were not a conflict between citizens of both countries but were "border clashes to protect sovereignty and respond to invaders." Meanwhile, the Chanthaburi and Trat Border Defense Command expanded the imposition of the martial law in the eastern provinces of Chanthaburi and Trat which border Cambodia. The martial law imposition covers Kaeng Hang Maew, Khao Khitchakut, Laem Sing, Makham, Muang, Na Yai Am and Tha Mai districts of Chanthaburi and Khao Saming district of Trat.
Bangkok Post
a day ago
- Bangkok Post
Thailand-Cambodia border clashes won't become war: Phumtham
Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai voiced confidence on Friday that the ongoing armed clashes along the Thai-Cambodian border would not escalate into a full-blown war between the two countries Mr Phumtham said the current incidents had not reached a level that warranted concern over a wider conflict. 'What we are seeing now are armed skirmishes, not war,' he said after chairing a meeting of the Ad Hoc Centre for the Thailand-Cambodia Border Situation. The deputy prime minister, who is overseeing security affairs, is acting as government leader following the suspension of Paetongtarn Shinawatra from the premiership. He said Thailand remained willing to hold talks with Cambodia to bring an end to the cross-border exchange of gunfire and artillery, but insisted that any dialogue must be preceded by a halt to Cambodian military operations, which he said had triggered the confrontation. The clashes have so far been confined to four northeastern provinces: Buri Ram, Si Sa Ket, Surin and Ubon Ratchathani — all under the responsibility of the Second Army Region. Mr Phumtham said Thai security agencies were working to prevent the conflict from spreading beyond these areas and to keep the situation under control. The Thai-Cambodian border also stretches through Sa Kaeo, Chanthaburi and Trat. Sa Kaeo falls under the jurisdiction of the First Army Region, while the Royal Thai Navy oversees border security in Chanthaburi and Trat.
Bangkok Post
3 days ago
- Bangkok Post
New mine blast inflames border tensions
The Thai-Cambodian border dispute has escalated dramatically after five more Thai soldiers were injured by landmines — one losing a leg — in a disputed area of Ubon Ratchathani province on Wednesday afternoon. The incident near the Chong An Ma border crossing prompted the government to order the closure of all crossings in northeastern Thailand. The army, meanwhile, activated its 'Chakrapong Phuwanart' emergency plan, which was last put into operation in 2011 during the conflict over the Preah Vihear temple site. The plan involves the 1st and 2nd army regions, which are responsible for the Central Plains and the Northeast respectively. Shortly afterward, Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai said the government was expelling the Cambodian ambassador, while recalling the Thai envoy from Phnom Penh. 'By recalling the Thai Ambassador from Cambodia and sending the Cambodian Ambassador back to Cambodia, we will consider the level of relations further,' a government statement quoted Mr Phumtham, who is also acting prime minister, as saying. The army said the landmine incident occurred while soldiers were on patrol near Huai Bon in Nam Yuen district of the northeastern province at 4.55pm. The incident resulted in injuries to five army personnel, with one soldier sustaining severe injuries to his right leg from stepping on the explosive device. The other four experienced chest tightness and tinnitus from the blast concussion. All are now being treated at Nam Yuen Hospital. The soldier who lost his right leg was identified as Sgt Maj First Class Phichitchai Boonkorat of the 14th Infantry Regiment patrol unit. A spokesperson said the army commander-in-chief, Gen Pana Claewplodtook, would visit the area on Thursday. 'The army seriously condemns the inhumane act which violates the principles of international humanitarianism and international agreements and occurred in the Kingdom of Thailand. It is the act of Cambodia,' it said in a statement. 'It demands Cambodia take responsibility for the incident which is considered as a serious threat to peace and stability along the border of both countries. 'The army confirms that it will use all existing mechanisms properly to protect Thai military personnel and citizens from such incidents.'
