Bangkok Police Involved In Drug Dealing Face Punishment, Priewpan Warns

[webfact]

Police involved in drug dealing face punishment, Priewpan warns

By The Nation

Police officers based in Bangkok at both junior and senior levels, who were involved in drug dealing, would face disciplinary and criminal action soon, acting national police chief Pol General Priewpan Damapong warned yesterday.

Speaking after a meeting with officials from the Office of the Narcotics Control Board, Priewpan said the ONCB had supplied police with evidence backing up suspicions that many police at inner Bangkok stations benefited from drug dealing.

For officers involved with drug dealers, Priewpan said he was more worried about police than military personnel. "They are much stronger than we policemen, who have many complicated things in our lives," he said, without defining what sort of complications.

Priewpan said he would meet soon with the commander of the Armed Forces to discuss the government's get-touch policy on narcotics to utilise joint police-military operations.

Bangkok police chief Pol Lt-General Jakthip Chaijinda said there were 10 big-time dealers based in the capital under police watch, and Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung had threatened to punish him if widespread drug abuse continued.

"I am not sure if I will be removed from the Bangkok police chief's post, but I will do my job at my best," he said.

In regard to reports of Bangkok-based police being involved in drug dealing, Jakthip said it was possible as there were tens of thousands of police attached to the Metropolitan Police Bureau, who might also be part of other corruption and extortion. But he said: "They will be discharged if caught."

Meanwhile, Bang Khunthien police in Bangkok's Thon Buri have seized 11kg of amphetamine powder, mixed with vanilla and green tea fragrances. They arrested a suspect, Adisak Hongfon, who allegedly told police he had recently sold 50,000 tablets.

Police said Adisak implicated two unidentified Chinese nationals who hired him to produce the tablets, and told of a technique to conceal the smell of ya ba (speed) pills - by placing a large amount of dog excrement around his home, where he made the tablets.

Separately, two Lao nationals were arrested last Saturday in Nakhon Ratchasima while allegedly attempting to transport 17,985 amphetamine tablets to Bangkok. Khonsawan Kaewsa and Bunhome Wongwanthong confessed to being drug couriers for Bt90,000 a run.

-- The Nation 2011-09-13

[Kilgore Trout]

the government's get-touch policy on narcotics

I have never heard of this policy

[Thaddeus]

And I've never heard of this one.

But he said: "They will be discharged if caught."

[skippybangkok]

........... it was possible as there were tens of thousands of police attached to the Metropolitan Police Bureau, who might also be part of other corruption and extortion. But he said: "They will be discharged if caught.

Possible ? Probably more like it.

Just introduce "Mystery Shopping" concept and your bound to end up with 10-15 cops on a hook per day. Not that hard ( if you really want to ).

[OzMick]

Let me guess - B10,000 fine and 2 years jail (suspended). Lower ranks face possible loss of promotion while generals will get moved to an inactive post (6 months in a golf resort and spa.)

[Thaddeus]

Let me guess - B10,000 fine and 2 years jail (suspended). Lower ranks face possible loss of promotion while generals will get moved to an inactive post (6 months in a golf resort and spa.)

Or, heaven forbid, they are forced to wear Hello Kitty arm bands.

[Deez]

As long as thailand continues to pay their police force the same as (or less than) fast food workers they will always have the need to "supplement" their income. The first step to tackling the widespread corruption is to pay them a decent wage.

[jalansanitwong]

I dont believe the original post.

[Crushdepth]

And I've never heard of this one.

But he said: "They will be discharged if caught."

Better than being executed without trial?

[falangjim]

And I've never heard of this one.

But he said: "They will be discharged if caught."

Better than being executed without trial?

Discharged to devote more time to drug trafficking. I still say shoot 'em in broad daylight.

[Bakseedaa]

I dont believe the original post.

Neither do I, a quick walk around Sukomvik soi 3 - 5 area, I was offered drugs galore by the West African gangs.. They are easy to spot.. So are their sisters and girlfriends selling themselves... But what does Lumpini Police Station do about them...Absolutely Nothing..!! Why might that be, I ask myself And which officer owns the new Mercedes 500 parked in the carpark with his hat on the rear window sill..? Not Pc Plod... for sure...!

[webfact]

Many Policemen Implicated in Drug Trafficking

The acting police chief says that he has received a report from the Narcotics Control Board, claiming that there are police officers of different ranks involved in the illicit drug trade.

Acting police chief Police General Priewpan Damapong said he has received a report from the Narcotics Control Board, informing him that there are many police officers of various ranks, both from investigative and suppression units, involved in drug trafficking, particularly in the inner Bangkok area.

Priewpan said officers who are found to be involved with drugs will face severe disciplinary action and criminal charges.

The acting police chief also reported that law enforcement authorities are working with the Narcotics Control Board and the Corrections Department to stop drugs from entering prisons.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung claims that he has been informed about officers from the Metropolitan Police Bureau being involved in the drug trade.

However, Chalerm refused to go into details, citing the ongoing investigation.

The deputy prime minister also implicated a number of police officers in the Northeast in the drug trade and asked them to cease their illegal activities immediately, otherwise they will face investigation.

He added that the current administration is fixed on narcotics eradication but relented that it might be impossible to completely rid the country of narcotics.

Meanwhile, in Sikhio District of Nakhon Ratchasima Province, the police anti-narcotics unit seized almost 20,000 methamphetamine pills along with two suspects of Laotian nationality, who were allegedly transporting the shipment from Laos to Bangkok.

At the same time, the Metropolitan police has apprehended a man with a methamphetamine making machine, powdered methamphetamine and fragrance which could be used to manufacture up to 150,000 pills, worth 40 million baht, at a house in Bang Bon District.

In the same district, undercover agents arrested a drug dealer with 3,600 methamphetamine pills at a local shopping mall.

In the meantime, another suspect was arrested with 18,000 methamphetamine pills and one kilogram of crystallized methamphetamine at the Mochit Bus Terminal.

He confessed that he was carrying the shipment to a distributor in Hat Yai District in Songkhla Province for a fee of 50,000 baht.

Police are currently expanding the investigation for additional suspects.

-- Tan Network 2011-09-13

[ralphlsasser]

The problem is they won't get caught. They'll be warned to be more discrete and continue as long as the money is divided equally and everyone gets their share.

[lannarebirth]

the government's get-touch policy on narcotics

I have never heard of this policy

The get tough policy involves killing without due process of law, suspected hill tribe mules. Ignore everyone else.

[OzMick]

So if you're BIB involved in the drug trade, and the Police chief knows this, but you stop now - then everything is OK, you can keep your ill-gotten tax-free gains, stay in your job, and resume where you left off after things cool down a bit?

[elgato]

Some heads are gonna roll!

[Thaddeus]

I do know one BiB here who did lose his job.

He was organising lumber being smuggled in to Thailand over the Cambodian border. The big boss didn't know about it and wasn't getting a cut. So when he found out, blam, you're history.

It would appear that if you keep the head pig fed, the little piglets can carry on doing what they do best, breaking the law.

[Kilgore Trout]

The deputy prime minister also implicated a number of police officers in the Northeast in the drug trade and asked them to cease their illegal activities immediately, otherwise they will face investigation

What are they saying? We know you have broken the law but if you stop now we won't say or do anything about it. Do Thais ever wonder why their police force are a laughing stock?

[OZEMADE]

Nothing will happen. I remember a couple of years ago when the Boss of the Bangkok Police complained, "after he was pulled up 3 times in a few kilometer's' he said, " I know the Police have to subsidise their wages " but this is rediculous.

[Misterwhisper]

If the man manages to clean out the cesspool that is Thailand's police force and mete out real punishment to drug dealers camouflaging in police uniform (i.e. jail time instead of transfers to 'inactive posts' and discharge, which are a joke in terms of 'punishment'), I will gladly discard my bias that he is a member of the wider Thaksin clan. Not holding my breath, though. Even if his intentions should be honest, he'll still fight an uphill battle against a powerful and well-connected establishment and will make himself many, many bitter enemies. But if he wants to go ahead, I think he deserves support.

[Oberkommando]

It would appear that if you keep the head pig fed, the little piglets can carry on doing what they do best, breaking the law.

They are nothing more than a corrupt mafia-style organisation that thrives on extortion and other criminal activity.

Unfortunately, they are just a by-product of Thai society and culture, so it will never change.

[Boater]

these stories always make me laugh.....

it is COMMON knowledge that the police control the drug trade in Thailand, as well as the Brass and casino's

how else can you explain 1 million USD cars in the police car parks?

[Thaddeus]

how else can you explain 1 million USD cars in the police car parks?

Hard work, overtime and an unswerving attitude to duty.

[kraplung]

I am shocked. Is Thailand's new police chief and close confidant of Thailand most famous policeman telling us that the Thai police cannot be trusted?

[richardblanc]

as i write yesterday

casino,drug

next should be the prostitition incomes

poor cops out of business

i hope for them they don't cut

bar fine(late opening) and red book security in mail box

they will have to organise a charity tour soon

they still have to pay house car child school credit

serve the HI SO doesnt make u one of them

[chooka]

the government's get-touch policy on narcotics

I have never heard of this policy

If you get caught then it's one weeks loss of tea money.

[drdoom6996]

In America if you want drugs, find a taxi cab. In Europe find a concierge at a hotel/motel. In Thailand ask a cop.

[newermonkey]

I am guessing that the problem is less in Bkk as it would be in Pattaya, because if they arrested all the police involved with drug dealing in the Chonburi/ Pattaya areas there wont be any police left at all!

Mmm... Perhaps its not such a bad idea... just shut all the stations down, because being more than useless they don't do any good for the law biding citizens anyway.

[richardblanc]

don't worry they still have the tourist police for collect corruption money good staff and free :jap:

[newermonkey]

And I've never heard of this one.

But he said: "They will be discharged if caught."

"They will be discharged if caught"

Meaning have their "Pockets" discharged of drugs so they can be sold on.