Chiang Rai News
Thai PM take a New Stance on Fighting Drugs
Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and her deputy Chalerm Yubamrung inspect seized illegal drugs displayed at Government House yesterday. PATTANAPONG HIRUNARD
CHIANGRAI TIMES – Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said the ruling Pheu Thai Party aims to turn 400,000 of the country’s 1.2 million drug addicts into decent citizens through rehabilitation.
The government has kicked off its anti-drugs push with a pledge to get tough on dealers and traffickers, but to help rehabilitate, rather than punish, addicts so they may later re-enter society.
However, Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung, who has been appointed head of the suppression centre, declared officials will get tough with drug traffickers and dealers during the one-year operation.
Police forces have been mobilised to border routes in Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and Mae Hong Son provinces to prevent drugs from being smuggled into the country, said acting national police chief Priewpan Damapong.
Prime Minister Yingluck said her government would treat drug addicts as patients so these people can later return to society.
Most drug addicts are aged between 16 and 24 years old and these young people are regarded as a resource of the nation.
“As a mother, I do not want to see children fall victim to drugs,” she said.
The new suppression campaign will be supervised by the new drugs command centre headed by Mr Chalerm, she said.
Apart from law enforcement operations against traffickers and dealers, key elements of the new campaign will include the rehabilitation of addicts, the promotion of community empowerment and safeguarding young people from drug addiction.
Neighbouring countries will be asked to cooperate in stopping drug shipments from crossing the border.
The campaign was in response to Her Majesty the Queen’s call for government action against drugs on her birthday on Aug 12, Ms Yingluck said.
Mr Chalerm told reporters his centre will focus its work on trying to block drug shipments crossing the northern border, where 70% of the illicit drugs are smuggled into the country.
Neighbouring countries will be asked to support the campaign, and if they refuse to cooperate, Thailand will complain internationally, he said.
The authorities will take tough measures against drug dealers and any officials who take bribes to turn a blind eye to the trade.
Drug traffickers and dealers will have their assets seized. They will also be placed under stricter control during their detention to prevent them from continuing their business, typically through the use of mobile phones smuggled into prison.
The defence and the justice ministers will be asked to help find accommodations in military barracks or in prisons for drug addicts undergoing rehabilitation programmes, said Mr Chalerm.
Pol Gen Priewpan has sent special police teams to the northern border areas and they will be asked to report the results of their drug suppression efforts in four months.
The Royal Thai Police Office will make sure these special police teams will be sufficiently supplied with weapons, vehicles and a budget, he said.
Meanwhile, Wasant Panich, a former national human rights commissioner who investigated alleged human rights violations in the 2003 “war on drugs” spearheaded by then-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, said he hoped this operation would be carried out with greater adherence to the rule of law and justice.
“We do not want to see a recurrence of the Thaksin war on drugs, which tok the lives of 2,600 people suspected of being involved in narcotics,” he said.
“There must be no torture or extrajudicial killings of suspects.
“If killings are unavoidable in the course of the operation, the Justice Ministry’s Central Institute of Forensic Science should be permitted to investigate the cases, instead of the police, to ensure justice for the dead.”
Mr Wasant said searches of homes carried out under the drug operation should only be done with court approval and charges against suspects must only be pressed when there is strong evidence.
He encouraged any people who feel wronged by the campaign to lodge their complaints with state agencies.
Uthen Nunphin, a deputy chief of subdivision 3 of the Provincial Police Region 1's Investigation Centre, to lead a study into enforcing drugs laws along with money laundering laws.
Drug gangs will also have their finances targetted, in a new strategy adopted by Provincial Police Region 1.
This is part of an intensified campaign by the police region to rid their areas of drug crime.
Khamronwit Thupkrachang, who was appointed Provincial Police Region 1 commander a month ago, said anti-money laundering efforts will complement anti-drugs and criminal laws in his battle against drug rings in Ayutthaya and the upper central region.
“The drug problem in this region is particularly rampant because this is where most drugs from the North are stored temporarily before being smuggled into Bangkok,” said Pol Maj Gen Khamronwit.
Police say two notorious brothers, the late Charnchai “Joke” and Noppon “Jib” Paikiew, were members of a major drug gang in Ayutthaya.
The pair were accused of involvement in a drive-by shooting in Ayutthaya on Dec 4 last year which led to the death of 12-year-old Phokin “Nong Tomee” Deephiu.
Police shot Charnchai dead in a raid at his Bang Pa-in apartment on Dec 11. Mr Noppon fled from the raid but was found and arrested a few days later. Pol Maj Gen Khamronwit said all 140 police stations under his supervision would dig deeper into every drug case.
They would be required to report drug-related arrests every five days and the heads of drug suppression teams would be required to explain in person if any of them failed to submit reports.
Stations would follow up the reports, as tips from arrested drug suspects could lead investigators to bigger players.
Pol Maj Gen Khamronwit said the key to catching big-time drug dealers is to target their finance networks.
He has assigned Uthen Nunphin, a deputy chief of subdivision 3 of the Provincial Police Region 1’s Investigation Centre, to lead a study into enforcing drugs laws along with money laundering laws.
Pol Lt Col Uthen is working with the Anti-Money Laundering Office to improve the police’s drug suppression operations with the help of anti-money laundering laws.
He believes previous failures to combine investigations into suspected drug traffickers, with probes into how they were laundering the proceeds of their crimes, has held back the fight against drug crime.
“From now on, every drug suspect, whether a buyer or seller, will face a second blow after his or her arrest,” said Pol Lt Col Uthen.
As well as being arrested on drug charges, they could also have their assets seized, he said. Investigators would track the illegal assets of the suspects and have them seized.
“We will make sure that they will not have any money left, even to support a bail request,” Pol Lt Col Uthen said.
Anyone who put up bail for a drug suspect will also face an anti-money laundering investigation as part of the same probe into the suspect’s assets.
If suspects could not prove where their money or assets had come from, police would have good reason to suspect they had been acquired illegally and they would have to be frozen pending further investigation.
“Some drug suspects save their money in others’ bank accounts, or buy houses, cars and properties in others’ names,” said Pol Lt Col Uthen.
“But now we can track them with the help of the anti-money laundering law, which will make life harder for them and could help keep our streets free of drugs and influence.”
Police in Wiang Kaen District of Chiang Rai Province have arrested a 50 year old man after the threatened to rape a 20 year-old woman and the proceeded to murder her 2 and half month old baby.
Police with doctors from Wiang Kaen Hospital and the Chao Luang Wiang Kaen Welfare Association were summoned to the scene of the incident to a 2-story cement house, Village No. 2, Tha Kham Subdistrict, Wiang Kaen District of Chiang Rai
On arrival they found Ms. Chanikarn, age 20, in a state of distress crying uncontrollably beside her 2 and a half month baby girl (Linlada) that was dead on the floor.
After calming Ms. Chanikarn, the child’s mother, said that at approximately 2:30 p.m she was out to collect diapers that had been dried in front of the house, while her 2 and a half month old daughter was sleep on the ground floor of the house.
She said she was suddenly approached by a Mr. Lee, about 40 years old, who lived on the opposite side of the road. He came towards her and grabbed her arm and threatened her saying if she didn’t sleeping with him he will go and kill his daughter.
Miss Chanikan refused and ran away, then Mr. Lee then walked into the house and grabbed Ms. Linlada’s leg, smashing the child’s head against the cement floor of the house. The infant died immediately.
Mr. Lee then just walked away and returned to his own home, leaving Miss Chanikan and her dead baby.
When police went to Mr. Lee’s home he immediately confessed killing the infant and was taken to Wiang Kaen Police Station for further questioning. Under caution he told police that he was sexually attracted to Miss Chanikan‘s and when her husband leave for work he took the opportunity to approach her.
He said when he saw her husband leave he crossed that road and found Miss Chanikan in the yard alone, he then threatened her to sleep with him, saying he would kill her child if she didn’t have sex with him. However when she refused he flew into a fit of rage walked into her home and murdered he baby. He said he was out of control with rage.
After killing the infant he walk across the street to his home and waited for the police to arrive. The police have charged him with premeditated murder and attempted rape. He is being held without bail at the local remand center.
Meanwhile, Miss Chanikan and her family were preparing a religious burial ceremony for the child.
Other Chiang Rai News:
Machete Wielding Man Shot an Killed by Police in Chiang Rai
https://www.chiangraitimes.com/chiangrai-news/machete-wielding-man-shot-an-killed-by-police-in-chiang-rai/
CHIANG RAI: Prime Minister Settha Thavisin has authorized the establishment of an emergency cyber center operated by the Royal Thai Police to combat transnational crimes committed by call center gangs along the Thai border in Chiang Rai province.
On July 19, Prime Minister Settha Thavisin directed the Center to combat information technology crimes. The Royal Thai Police (Royal Thai Police) will crack down on call center gangs in Myanmar, Laos, and along the border.
His directive comes as call center gangs ratchet up their scams to defraud people of their money, causing concern among Thais and jeopardizing the country’s economic and social stability.
Pol. Gen. Kittirat Panphet, Deputy Commander and Director of the Police Crime Suppression Division, Assigned Pol. Lt. Gen. Thatchai Pitanilabut, Assistant Commander-in-Chief of the Police/Deputy Director of the Police Crime Suppression Division, has launched the operation ‘Bombing the Thieves’ Bridge’ in collaboration with the CAT Office, G., mobile phone network operators AIS DTAC TRUE NT, and local security agencies to cut the mobile phone signal and WiFi internet that criminals illegally use to deceive Thai citizens.
Pol. Lt. Gen. Thatchai stated that they will begin pressing the first action of the ‘Explosion of Thieves’ Bridge’ in Chiang Rai Province toward the thieves’ base of operations in the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone.
The territory surrounding King Roman in Laos. King Roman is now a full-service entertainment destination with an airport that welcomes travelers from Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar, he explained.
According to Pol. Lt. Gen. Thatchai, this operation will have no influence on honest people along the Thai border, and it will only target cyber criminals.
They will also increase the arrest and prosecution of unlawful service towers, such as SIM booths, which allow gangs register SIM cards to swindle the people. Dealing with criminal organizations of foreigners and Thais who band together to deceive and damage Thais.
The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) suspended more than three million SIM cards on July 16 because the holders had not verified their identities with their mobile phone operators by the deadline, in accordance with the NBTC’s measures to combat alleged fraudsters’ mule accounts.
The names of the holders of 80 million mobile phone numbers used for mobile banking transactions did not match the names associated with the mobile banking accounts.
The NBTC would require mobile phone companies to authenticate SIM card holders and the names of their mobile banking accounts. The verification procedure is expected to be completed by the end of September this year.
In addition, the NBTC and Royal Thai Police have collaborated to combat illegal telecom towers throughout the country’s borders, disconnecting signals at 465 places, altering antenna direction at 470 towers, and dismantling antennas at 179 locations.
They are certain that the move will disrupt contact center gangs and other types of technology-based crime.
Other Chiang Rai News:
Machete Wielding Man Shot an Killed by Police in Chiang Rai
https://www.chiangraitimes.com/chiangrai-news/machete-wielding-man-shot-an-killed-by-police-in-chiang-rai/
Police in Mae Chan, Chiang Rai, shot and killed a 28-year-old man who allegedly attacked a police officer with a machete. The officer was slashed in the right leg with the machete.
According to police, the culprit, known only as Mr. Toon, had been harassing local villagers in Mae Chan district, Chiang Rai, threatening them with a knife and using violet insults.
The village headman arrived on the scene to try to calm Mr. Toon, but he was shouting hysterically and taking swipes at him with the machete, so he contacted the police.
When the responding officer arrived at the site about 9 p.m., he attempted to calm the man, but he instead assaulted the officer, slashing his right leg with the machete. In self-defense, the cop had to fire his gun at Mr. Toon, striking him in the chest.
Mr. Toon and the policeman were taken to Mae Chan Hospital, where Mr. Toon died of a gunshot wound. Pol Sgt. Sutthikiat Phanomphraisakul was released from the hospital after receiving numerous stitches for his injuries.
Local police received a tip around 9.30 p.m. yesterday that a guy was causing mayhem in the village. When authorities arrived, they discovered 28-year-old Toon strolling along a public road, holding a large knife and threatening people. Mae Chan district officials attempted to contain the incident.
During a search of Mr. Toon’s home, authorities discovered methamphetamine consumption equipment. Locals told authorities that the man was addicted to Yaba (Methamphetamine) and an alcoholic.
The authorities are conducting an inquiry to determine Toon’s motivations and whether any underlying issues contributed to his violent outburst.
Other related news:
Chiang Mai Police Offer Cash Reward After Officer Killed
https://www.chiangraitimes.com/crime/chiang-mai-police-offer-reward/
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