Thailand to beef up maritime export measures after New Zealand drug seizure

By The Nation

 

Athirat Rattanaset

 

After a meeting with exporters on Tuesday (September 24), Deputy Transport Minister Athirat Rattanaset said the issue of shipping containers filled with drugs being seized last month in New Zealand after being allowed through in Chon Buri’s Laem Chabang Port, affects the country’s image and requires immediate action.

 

“I had summoned related agencies, including the Marine Department, Port Authority of Thailand, Office of the Narcotics Control Board, the Royal Thai Police and the National Intelligence Agency [NIA] to discuss possible measures to prevent such an incident from recurring,” he said.

 

He further explained that the seized containers, which allegedly belonged to a foreign drug network, had managed to slip through the x-ray machines at Laem Chabang port.

 

“The x-ray procedure is the Customs Department’s responsibility,” he said. “So, I have called on them to beef-up security measures by installing more advanced x-ray machines, as well as increase the frequency of inspection."

 

“Meanwhile, police and the NIA have promised to provide the Customs Department with in-depth intelligence information, so they can inspect suspicious containers more accurately,” he added.

 

According to the minister, approximately 20,000 containers pass through Laem Chabang port daily, but the ones under watch are those heading for New Zealand, Australia and Japan.

 

“Our intelligence confirms that there are drug networks and syndicates for smuggled goods present in these countries,” he said.

 

Athirat also confirmed that the beefing up of inspection measures should not affect all exporters.

 

“Today [September 24], I met with representatives of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, Thai National Shippers’ Council and Thai Transportation and Logistics Association to clarify the situation and seek their cooperation,” he said. “Private exporters are key to creating a more efficient inspection process, as they can produce authentic documents identifying which containers belong to their association members and which ones don’t, making it easier for us to pinpoint suspicious containers.”

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30376670

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2019-09-25

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13 minutes ago, webfact said:

“I had summoned related agencies, including the Marine Department, Port Authority of Thailand, Office of the Narcotics Control Board, the Royal Thai Police and the National Intelligence Agency [NIA] to discuss possible measures to prevent such an incident from recurring,” he said.

Surely the government minister with a criminal record for drug-smuggling would be the ideal person to give advice?

31 minutes ago, webfact said:

Private exporters are key to creating a more efficient inspection process, as they can produce authentic documents identifying which containers belong to their association members and which ones don’t, making it easier for us to pinpoint suspicious containers.”

20,000 thousand containers would mean at least 40-60000 documents to be viewed and authenticated, per day very easy to switch such papers and container with a few rewards dropped off at home of the viewers.

Chances are that this is not the first time these drugs have been seized. 

Sounds like a “small matter” to me. 

3 hours ago, webfact said:

affects the country’s image and requires immediate action.

 

Funny..

Sounds a bit like locking the barn door after the horse has bolted.  Just another sound bite by a self-important politician trying to convince the public he is earning his huge salary.

Maybe they should employ the tea, cheese and gravy searchers at the airport !

5 hours ago, webfact said:

He further explained that the seized containers, which allegedly belonged to a foreign drug network, had managed to slip through the x-ray machines at Laem Chabang port.

 

Not always a slip.. just not seen if the price is right !

6 hours ago, webfact said:

had managed to slip through the x-ray machines at Laem Chabang port.

 

I wonder how that happened,nudge,nudge,wink,wink.

regards Worgeordie

Had managed to slip through, 555 you Deputy Minister sir should be on the stage

12 hours ago, bluesofa said:

Surely the government minister with a criminal record for drug-smuggling would be the ideal person to give advice?

Not really, He got caught

13 hours ago, bluesofa said:

Surely the government minister with a criminal record for drug-smuggling would be the ideal person to give advice?

Exactly, the  biggest criminals in Thailand ARE the govt, all they care about is anything getting past them without their cut.

Well that's no surprise Australia should check all containers coming from Thailand as well.

I would bet a Thai customs officer is richer than most drug dealers.

the money is to be made on what's coming in rather than what's going out so it'll be sod what's exported let's go for the imports.