PM to hold urgent meetings with anti-drug officials

BANGKOK, April 17 -- Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Sunday said he would call an urgent meeting with the national police chief and concerned agencies later this week on ways to suppress major drug dealers in the country following last week’s incident in which a man, believed to be under the influence of drugs, went berserk and killed two persons and wounding two others before he was gunned down.

Mr Abhisit said during his TV and radio address that he was saddened by last Thursday’s incidents and that concerned government agencies would assist families of victims who had lost their lives or were wounded, especially the family of a taxi driver who was shot dead by the gunman.

He was referring to the gunman identified as Thada Intamart who killed two persons -- a police officer and a taxi driver – and wounding two others, including a female doctor, during the shooting spree in the Thai capital.

Police later decided to shoot him dead while he was holding the doctor identified as Pipatra Sailohit hostage inside her car and driving towards the Victory Monument. Initial autopsy reports found substantial amounts of methamphetamine in Thada’s body.

Thursday’s violence showed that narcotics problems continue exist in the country despite harsh suppression in the past two years, Mr Abhisit said, adding that attempts are being made to crack down on major drug traffickers.

Mr Abhisit said he would call an urgent meeting with senior officers of concerned government agencies including the Office of the Narcotics Control Board, Royal Thai Police Bureau and Justice Ministry on ways to tackle the drug problem more efficiently.

Meanwhile, national police chief Pol Gen Wichean Potephosree said he would meet with the prime minister on Monday.

“From now on, every police station must try to arrest more major traffickers as well as help treat drug addicts. There are already several projects underway to help addicts,” Pol Gen Wicheann said.

He admitted that “several policemen are involved in drug trafficking” which the Royal Thai Police Bureau is investigating and drastic actions would be taken against these wrongdoing officers when caught. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2011-04-17

of course policemen are involved in drug traffic....

this remember me a holiday in koh phangan where some tourists bought ganja to policemen undercover then charged by the same man for drug possession.

of course policemen are involved in drug traffic....

this remember me a holiday in koh phangan where some tourists bought ganja to policemen undercover then charged by the same man for drug possession.

That has nothing to do with policemen being involved in drug trafficking.

of course policemen are involved in drug traffic....

this remember me a holiday in koh phangan where some tourists bought ganja to policemen undercover then charged by the same man for drug possession.

Cops are also doing the business on Ko Samet island....

The last thing Thailand needs is to have the issue of the "corrupt" being given a greenlight against drug traffickers. They will plant, arrest and condemn all their competition - much the same as happened in Chiang Mai under Thaksin, and yes, there will be indiscriminate killings with the directive as the excuse.

Horrifying Rampage Sparks Enhanced Efforts to Tackle Narcotics

The prime minister has said he will call an urgent meeting with the national police chief and related agencies later this week to discuss efforts to crackdown on major drug dealers following last week’s shocking incident in which a man high on Yah-Bah, went on a rampage, killing two and wounding two others.

During his weekly television program yesterday, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva talked about the death of the man who attacked police officers, a taxi driver, as well as innocent bystanders killing two and causing several injuries on April 14.

Abhisit expressed his condolences to the victims' families and said he admired police officers for their brave efforts to put an end to the horrific incident.

He pledged to provide full assistance to the families of victims who lost their lives or were wounded, especially the family of a taxi driver who was shot dead by the crazed gunman while trying to stop the mad man.

He noted that Thursday’s violence showed that narcotics continue to plauge the country despite efforts to crackdown on the problem over the past two years.

Abhisit added that attempts are being made to crackdown on major drug traffickers as well as helping to treat drug addicts.

The premier said he will call an urgent meeting with senior officers of concerned government agencies to discuss ways of tackling the drug problem more efficiently.

Meanwhile, National Police Chief Police General Wichean Potphosree said prevention and suppression measures against drug trafficking will be stepped up.

From now on, the head of every police station must investigate drug suspects themselves to give such cases top priority.

Wichean added that an anti-drug drill will be held yearly in accordance with the Korakot 52 plan to enhance police's capacity to conduct safe and comprehensive counter-drug operations.

-- Tan Network 2011-04-18

of course policemen are involved in drug traffic....

this remember me a holiday in koh phangan where some tourists bought ganja to policemen undercover then charged by the same man for drug possession.

That has nothing to do with policemen being involved in drug trafficking.

Really?

How do you call a policeman who sell ganja?

Nowhere in any country a policeman has the right to sell drug to trick customers, they can try to buy it to arrest drug dealers, but certainly not sell it, make money, then arrest them to make more tea money

The drug problem is probably worse than ever before. Two years of suppression? What a joke.

It got pretty bad under Chuan Leekpai. I think the Democrats just don't have the right connections in the police force.

How do you call a policeman who sell ganja?

I call that a good policeman.........

The drug problem is probably worse than ever before. Two years of suppression? What a joke.

It got pretty bad under Chuan Leekpai. I think the Democrats just don't have the right connections in the police force.

According to the recent reports posted on Thaivisa it is worse than ever under this administration, and from personal experience, the reports aren't wrong.

Another failing of this government which is overlooked (and often outright denied) by those still obsessed with Thaksin.

Don't forget the Democrats have announced several times their eagerness to copy Thaksin's infamous 'War On Drugs' policies which led to over 2,000 extra-judicial killings.