The Russian Mafia is respected in the USA, by the Italian mafia, they are feared by the Italians in certain circumstances.
In Australia the Lebanese Mafia control the drug trade and probably work with the Italian mafia which has been in Australia for years, Australia invited mass migration of Italians over the past 70 years or more.
NZ invited mass migration of chinese over 20 years ago , govt said Hong Kong police would screen out the Triads, never happened, the Chinese teamed up with local gangs and NZ has a massive P problem and other drugs.
There are shootings everyday and a massive drug problem on such a large scale now it is affecting young people everywhere from all walks of life.
So what is happening in Thailand is because of government policy and corruption, just the same as in Britain ,NZ, and Australia, only NZ tries to convey a clean and green image , when it is totally corrupt but kept under wraps a little better than LOS.