Thai Police Chief Announces New Crackdown On Drugs, Gambling

[webfact]

Police Chief Announces New Crackdown on Drugs, Gambling

The national police chief has announced a new anti drug offensive that includes extreme punishment being handed out to officers found to be colluding with drug trafficking rings or gambling machine operators.

National Police Chief, Police General Wichien Pojphosri held a meeting with senior officers, and is urging them to step up efforts to combat crime, drugs and gambling around the country.

Wichen said the Royal Thai Police have a clear approach to cracking down on gambling machines and drugs.

He noted that officers who are derelict in their duties may be subject to minor punishments, while those found guilty of working with or taking bribes from perpetrators will be severely disciplined and will face criminal charges.

The police chief added that these punishments also apply to their superiors.

Wichien said more checkpoints will be erected nationwide in January.

Meanwhile, he said the investigation regarding complaints about officers who are stationed at the Klongton and Wat Phreayakrai police stations and have been accused of conspiring with drug gangs is still ongoing.

Wichien added that all police departments will work in a more integrated manner to stop armed violence.

The commissioner of the Narcotics Suppression Bureau, Police Lieutenant General Atithep Panjamanond is expected to meet with Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban to report on the conclusions of meeting.

When asked whether some police officers could exploit the campaign by incriminating fellow officers in the hopes of gaining an advantage in police transfers, Wichien responded by saying that there is nothing to fear if they are carrying out their duties in earnest.

-- Tan Network 2010-12-21

[whybother]

Thailand ... the Hub of Crackdowns.

Hopefully, cracking down on the corrupt police isn't just talk and leads to some action and actual results.

[siampolee]

Listen Daddy.

I can hear the choir singing, '' Sing us another one just like the other ones too.''

[TAWP]

So they are going to raid the 'small' venue close to Pantip that might be one of the biggest gambling dens in the city?

No, wait...that would be like stabbing themselves in the arm...

[screamingeagle]

yep, it's Christmas bonus time for the BIB!

[ndw]

Um... Won't the police be the ones administering this crackdown?

[eateer]

Funny, just yesterday morning in I saw 3 cops gambling away with the street vendors near Robinson. How I despise authority.

[apetley]

I wonder if I tell him about the cock fight meetings that took place near our old rental and the fact that the police acted as security there anything will be done?

[mistitikimikis]

Funny, just yesterday morning in I saw 3 cops gambling away with the street vendors near Robinson. How I despise authority.

Text with one of my yesterday's photos" Coming from Asoke-BTS I saw a "Viagra-man" hiding behind a wall which set-off my alarmbells and indeed, a bit further-on a "crackdown" on "working ladies". Of course a joke because late in the night walking back to Asoke Montri I was approached lots of times as usual: "where you go? go with you?" It's swimming against the tide!"

Some cops taking the "working" class, paid or unpaid, a pool-"restaurant" in the neighbourhood joined by them, even a cop with aids for more than six years........ Motorbike-cops acting like motortaxi-drivers: driving on the pedestrians-pavement not giving way.

"Crackdown"

[Just1Voice]

What a joke! Asking a TOTALLY CORRUPT so-called "police force" to crack down on gambling and drugs is a total exercise in futility.

I say sack the whole F*****G police department. Bring in REAL ones from Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan. A few from NY and LA, and maybe throw in a few "good ole boys" from forces like in Mississippi, Georgia and Alabama. Ohhhh, would that ever be fun to watch!!!!

[Thailand]

What a joke! Asking a TOTALLY CORRUPT so-called "police force" to crack down on gambling and drugs is a total exercise in futility.

I say sack the whole F*****G police department. Bring in REAL ones from Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan. A few from NY and LA, and maybe throw in a few "good ole boys" from forces like in Mississippi, Georgia and Alabama. Ohhhh, would that ever be fun to watch!!!!

It's what they did in HK in the 80's because the police were in to everything corrupt. Brought in many from the UK and other places and formed the ICAC.Extensive investigations were carried out. Those found to be corrupt to the greatest extent were prosecuted, those on the fringe were given the option of resigning or be prosecuted.Some went on to lucrative careers in finance and banking!

[hhiser]

"When asked whether some police officers could exploit the campaign by incriminating fellow officers in the hopes of gaining an advantage in police transfers, Wichien responded by saying that there is nothing to fear if they are carrying out their duties in earnest."

555+

Like we have not heard that 1 before.

[oMega69]

Good then they can clear out the Nigerians from the BKK area then

[Luckes]

Good then they can clear out the Nigerians from the BKK area then

Like they did two days ago in Sukhumvit 93??? Was wondering since the first day I arrived in this area about the high numbers of nigerians. After two days I knew what they were doing. Took the police 3 years to find out. Now they have arrested a 30 years old one with 10 bags of cocain! Shit, but still see many of them around so ... there is a lot of work left.

So how much hope do we have that they will take action or better when they will take?

[Arkady]

It would be better to reform the police first - decentralise them and make them accountable to their communities. That was tried under Sarayud but the resulting mutinous sulkiness made him backpedal. Without sweeping reform the police will continue as Thailand's leading criminal organisation. Abhisit already has already passed on a big opportunity to reform them during the backlash against police tomatoes who facilitated the red shirt riots.

[asiawatcher]

Interesting - here's a challenge to be sure. Let the top man see if he can make a difference and see how many in the lower ranks fold. If and it 's a big 'if' the results are positive - I live in hope - then all the better for all of us.

I also think it a good idea for international police to come in but language is a problem and locals will ignore the ICAC system which did work wonders.

Remember the Australia auditor about a decade ago who found the books had been cooked and blew the whistle on a Thai company. He suffered lead poisoning from close quarters by a motorcycle drive by and the perps never found. Upset the system here and anyone can be a target. It's that simple.

Money and drugs go hand in hand but so too does insanity of those doing drugs for money as well. They set an example and the threat just goes away. Let's wait and see!

[Just1Voice]

Yeah, I've noticed that "lead poisoning" seems to be one of the major causes of death in Thailand. If I'm not mistaken, I read a statistic the other day that said they have the highest murder rate (per capita) of any country in the world. Hey, they have to be #1 at SOMETHING, right?

[hardy1943]

yep, it's Christmas bonus time for the BIB!

You got that right,tried to shake me down 200 meters from my house. They did not even looked like cops I thought they where robbers.

Then they acted like Keystone Cops then I knew. Very rude but I been here 7 years ( actually their harassment just started the last 2 years) and got used to it. Kept saying we can not speak English

but knew how to say " you got money you can go " They got nothing but I made sure my friends and relatives from the Germany and USA will never visit this country again and we can all meet

in Sihanoukville in Cambodia.

Edited December 21, 2010 by hardy1943

[inthepink]

Yeah, I've noticed that "lead poisoning" seems to be one of the major causes of death in Thailand. If I'm not mistaken, I read a statistic the other day that said they have the highest murder rate (per capita) of any country in the world. Hey, they have to be #1 at SOMETHING, right?

Highest murder rate in the world??? I am afraid in your eagerness to denigrate the country you are indeed very much mistaken.

Incidentally, does your suggestion of bringing in police from LA include the type who beat black motorists for no reason, because I think Thailand could do without scum like that coming over here?

Edited December 21, 2010 by inthepink

[hardy1943]

It would be better to reform the police first - decentralise them and make them accountable to their communities. That was tried under Sarayud but the resulting mutinous sulkiness made him backpedal. Without sweeping reform the police will continue as Thailand's leading criminal organisation. Abhisit already has already passed on a big opportunity to reform them during the backlash against police tomatoes who facilitated the red shirt riots.

Abhisit is just a puppet on a string. I lost complete confidence in him and the police thugs can have their way.

[ginjag]

Interesting - here's a challenge to be sure. Let the top man see if he can make a difference and see how many in the lower ranks fold. If and it 's a big 'if' the results are positive - I live in hope - then all the better for all of us.

I also think it a good idea for international police to come in but language is a problem and locals will ignore the ICAC system which did work wonders.

Remember the Australia auditor about a decade ago who found the books had been cooked and blew the whistle on a Thai company. He suffered lead poisoning from close quarters by a motorcycle drive by and the perps never found. Upset the system here and anyone can be a target. It's that simple.

Money and drugs go hand in hand but so too does insanity of those doing drugs for money as well. They set an example and the threat just goes away. Let's wait and see!

The boss had a meeting with some senior officers eh !!.....................Wouldn,t it have been better to summon the heads of ALL the Thai city chiefs , tell them of the big clampdown, so they will go back and send the message to all the town chiefs. PHEW !!!! instead of our town police collecting 20k from 1 venue a month---they would immediatly,return the gambling pay off, and jail the owner for offering them bribes-the close the place down ?????....................... :lol: :lol:

[MunterHunter]

http://www.mapsofworld.com/world-top-ten/countries-with-highest-murder-rates.html

Thailand doesnt even make it into the Top 10

[jdinasia]

It would be better to reform the police first - decentralise them and make them accountable to their communities. That was tried under Sarayud but the resulting mutinous sulkiness made him backpedal. Without sweeping reform the police will continue as Thailand's leading criminal organisation. Abhisit already has already passed on a big opportunity to reform them during the backlash against police tomatoes who facilitated the red shirt riots.

Abhisit is just a puppet on a string. I lost complete confidence in him and the police thugs can have their way.

And strangely the country is GAINING confidence in Abhisit. (This article is not about him though!)

Who knows ... hopefully this doesn't end up another Thaksin style "War on Drugs" as an excuse to kill people. However, IF the police that matter have already done some investigations this could lead to a bit of house cleaning amongst some folks with higher ranks and connections who in the past thought they were untouchable.

All in all, I expect it to be a tempest in a teacup. Gambling goes up around New Years and this seems like a predictable announcement because of that.

[hardy1943]

Yeah, I've noticed that "lead poisoning" seems to be one of the major causes of death in Thailand. If I'm not mistaken, I read a statistic the other day that said they have the highest murder rate (per capita) of any country in the world. Hey, they have to be #1 at SOMETHING, right?

Highest murder rate in the world??? I am afraid in your eagerness to denigrate the country you are indeed very much mistaken.

Incidentally, does your suggestion of bringing in police from LA include the type who beat black motorists for no reason, because I think Thailand could do without scum like that coming over here?

You are referring to Rodney King that was 20 years ago sad but true but lots of things have changed since but then one bad apple (police officer) can make the whole barrel rotten.

To me they all get a big head once they get that police helmet on no matter what country. Thailand is usually every year in the top 3 with South Africa being number one.

[MunterHunter]

Thailand is usually every year in the top 3 with South Africa being number one.

Please quote your source, my limited googleing skills show a different story to the one you speak of

[inthepink]

Yeah, I've noticed that "lead poisoning" seems to be one of the major causes of death in Thailand. If I'm not mistaken, I read a statistic the other day that said they have the highest murder rate (per capita) of any country in the world. Hey, they have to be #1 at SOMETHING, right?

Highest murder rate in the world??? I am afraid in your eagerness to denigrate the country you are indeed very much mistaken.

Incidentally, does your suggestion of bringing in police from LA include the type who beat black motorists for no reason, because I think Thailand could do without scum like that coming over here?

You are referring to Rodney King that was 20 years ago sad but true but lots of things have changed since but then one bad apple (police officer) can make the whole barrel rotten.

To me they all get a big head once they get that police helmet on no matter what country. Thailand is usually every year in the top 3 with South Africa being number one.

Yes 20 years ago but we are talking about a country that only declared all forms of racial segregation illegal 42 years ago so I dread to think how much racism persists out of public view. Not the most enlightened place to import police officers from.

As MunterHunter requested, can you tell us where you are getting your murder figures from because they do not tally with anything I have read...Thailand has never been in the top 3.

[jimbeam1]

Until Thailand gets at least a semi honest and semi non corrupt government. I think in reality nothing is really going to happen. As others, I thought the answer was to get did of the bad apples right up to the top. But how long would it be before it was all back to square one?

jb1

[asiawatcher]

My wife was offered a job in the Police force. Cost? 100,000 Baht to earn 7,000 a month. But then they told her she could make xxx,xxx on top of salary and she could pay 'upline' to the top for promotion to receive more! MLM came to mind immediately. Buy a position and keep milking those below you. And the guy above has to keep paying the guy above that to hold the position and on it goes to the ???

[rayw]

Simpler and more intelligent just to legalise and licence the sale and use of soft drugs known to be less or no more harmful than Alcohol and Tobacco, and also legalise gambling for adults as it should be up to each individual what he spends his money on. Not something you should legislate against. If they did this then it would avoid a lot of police bribery money and corruption AND give the police more time to crack down on hard drug dealers in death, pimps, protection rackets and other serious anti social crimes instead of wasting time of taking away peoples normal harmless to others freedoms. Allowing the use and sale of Alcohol and not say Pot seems hypocritical to me and as you see in most enlightened western countries soft drugs like Marijuana are now either being legalised or treated as acceptable by law enforcement authorities. Come on Thailand I love you but wake up and lets get real crime cracked.

[Pib]

This is just the quarterly public release on the police efforts to crack down on crime and internal corruption. I feel safer already. Next release planned for Mar 11.