Police Chief Proposes Prison On Island For Drug Dealers: Thailand

[webfact]

Police chief proposes prison cell on island for drug dealers

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- National Police chief Pol General Priewpan Damapong yesterday proposed the construction of a prison on an island, especially for drug dealers as it would be easier to control and prevent them from continuing their drug dealing from behind bars.

Priewpan said he was discussing his idea with senior officials. The facility should be equipped with a phone signal blocking system. He revealed the idea during a press conference yesterday about three suspects in Pattani's Sai Buri district who were arrested in Samut Sakhon's Muang district. About 373,800 yaba tablets, five kilograms of crystal meth and 120 kratom leaves were seized from them.

Meanwhile, police will seek arrest warrants for two or three more suspects after Major Piyanat Ketchamrat, an official at the Engineering Battalion of the Region 3 Army who has been accused of being involved in drug crimes, reportedly confessed and implicated a few others.

Narcotics Suppression Bureau deputy chief Pol Maj-General Charnwet Sesawet said Major Piyanat had confessed to transporting the drugs and also gave other useful information. Police would secure arrest warrants for two or three others whom he had implicated for transporting drugs in the Northern and Central regions. Charnwet declined to give details.

He said Sgt-Major 1st class Venus Sijai, another accused official from the Engineering Battalion of the Region 3 Army, was still hiding in Thailand. Police would soon bring to court Major Piyanat, who reportedly had faced asset seizure in 2009 due to his involvement in drug crimes, and seek his detention on the charge of possessing drugs.

Pol Lt-General Wanthip Wongwai, the Region 3 Army commander, said that an initial probe by his office found that Major Piyanat had been arrested in 2009 in a drug case by the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) and Bt3 million worth of his assets were seized. However, the ONCB failed to report the matter to the Engineering Battalion of the Region 3 Army. As a result, Major Piyanat was able to continue working there. He said the Army would wait for the legal procedure to complete its course before taking action against Major Piyanat.

Police yesterday also brought Piyanat's accuser, Nipon Kanchat, to the Ratchadaphisek Criminal Court and sought a 12-day detention until February 7, while objecting to his bail on the ground that he was a flight risk. Nipon was arrested for allegedly storing billions of baht worth of narcotics at a Pathum Thani house he rented from a Thai actress.

Nipon's implication of a drug inmate in the Bang Kwang Prison led to a search of the prison cell on Thursday but no illegal things were found except a cellphone. The justice minister's secretary, Thirachai Wutthitham, said the ministry would probe further as some drug inmates were found to have 80 bank accounts. They also planned to have the Department of Special Investigation, the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission, the Anti-Money Laundering Office and the ONCB send special task force units to search drug inmates' cells in future.

As drug suspects often implicate inmates, ONCB chief Adul Saengsingkaew said he would next week discuss possible solutions with the Corrections Department and the Royal Thai Police, including blocking phone signals at prisons.

Meanwhile, Nakhon Sawan's Paknam Pho police officers engaged in a gunfight with a drug gang yesterday morning. One suspect was shot dead, two suspects were captured and two others fled the scene. The gang members, on two motorcycles, who were about to deliver 500 yaba tablets and 16 grams of ice to a customer, ran into a police truck, fled to a dead-end soi and fired at the police, according to provincial police chief Pol Maj-General Chantawit Ramasut.

In Phattalung's Ta Mot district, three drug suspects were arrested in a sting operation yesterday. Police seized 539 yaba tablets, 10 grams of ice, 200 bottles of cough syrup and kratom leaves.

In Khon Kaen's Muang district, police arrested a 30-year-old man while waiting to deliver 2,400 yaba tablets to a customer at 2.30am yesterday. He confessed to buying the drug from a Laotian.

In Bangkok, a team of 120 police officers yesterday raided five communities in Tao Poon and Bang Sue areas at 5.30am and arrested 14 drug suspects. They seized some yaba, crystal meth and drug-taking tools. The raids targeted the drug ring of Somchai "Ae Leuk" Iampaijit, a drug suspect who was shot dead earlier this week in a gunfight with police in Nonthaburi.

-- The Nation 2012-01-28

[necronx99]

"Pol Lt-General Wanthip Wongwai, the Region 3 Army commander, said that an initial probe by his office found that Major Piyanat had been arrested in 2009 in a drug case by the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) and Bt3 million worth of his assets were seized."

Arrested, presumably charged and convicted, assets seized, but they did't tell the Army??

Boggling....

[siampolee]

Shame Dubai isn't an island as there is already a prototype Thai miscreant there.

[folium]

The good major seems to have been arrested and Bt3 million of assets seized by the cops. Expensive,drug dealer type car?

Appears only now almost 3 years later is the Major being brought to court.

Seems to be a military drug group operating here, middle ranking officer plus a senior NCO. Perhaps no one wanted to make a fuss.

Seems there might be a lot more to this story.

[TheWalkingMan]

Devil's Island in Thailand?

[harrry]

Maybe KPG?

[NormanW]

Fantastic, a Thai Alcazar sorry Alcatraz

Edited January 28, 2012 by NormanW

[FOODLOVER]

"Pol Lt-General Wanthip Wongwai, the Region 3 Army commander, said that an initial probe by his office found that Major Piyanat had been arrested in 2009 in a drug case by the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) and Bt3 million worth of his assets were seized. However, the ONCB failed to report the matter to the Engineering Battalion of the Region 3 Army. As a result, Major Piyanat was able to continue working there. He said the Army would wait for the legal procedure to complete its course before taking action against Major Piyanat".

This mans superiors all up the line should be charged as well. Pathetic

Edited January 28, 2012 by FOODLOVER

[Buchholz]

Devil's Island in Thailand?

Fantastic, a Thai Alcazar sorry Alcatraz

Thailand already has one.... or had one.

They could simply re-open the prison on Koh Tarutao.

It has already had its torture pits reconstructed.

Just make sure the island prison remains supplied this time around so as to prevent the guards and prisoners working together as

The Pirates of Tarutao.

(very good book).

Edited January 28, 2012 by Buchholz

[siampolee]

However, the ONCB failed to report the matter to the Engineering Battalion of the Region 3 Army.

It would seem as if the large envelope contained the wrong colored papers to file charges.

As a result of the confusion caused by this error inaction was considered the best option.The peanuts went down well with the refreshments provided at the meeting concerning the appropriate and resultant course of inaction. !!!!

Edited January 28, 2012 by siampolee

[folium]

So we have some mid ranking army engineers handily based in Army Region 3 covering N & NW Thailand and the leaky border with Myanmar.

They transport "billions" of baht worth of drugs to a house owned by an "actress" in Patthum Thani.

The operation appears to be managed from a "high security" jail.

All this comes to light when the guy babysitting the warehouse spills the beans re the military connection and prison management.

All of a sudden the RTA "discover" that major major (does feel like a Catch 22 sub plot) was bust by ONCB 3 years ago and had a possible Bt3 million car confiscated. Wonder where that is now and how many other mid level RTA officers have Bt3 million assets to spare?

Wonderful story and underlines the entrepreneurial spirit of so many organizations here.

[thequietman]

Meanwhile, Nakhon Sawan's Paknam Pho police officers engaged in a gunfight with a drug gang yesterday morning. One suspect was shot dead, two suspects were captured and two others fled the scene. The gang members, on two motorcycles, who were about to deliver 500 yaba tablets and 16 grams of ice to a customer, ran into a police truck, fled to a dead-end soi and fired at the police, according to provincial police chief Pol Maj-General Chantawit Ramasut.

dead end street and still managed to escape. does yaba give you super powers so you can climb walls or leap buildings.

note to self- dont commit a crime here and involve thais. they squeal like pigs when caught.

[OzMick]

Maybe KPG?

If you meant Koh Pha Ngan, I had the same idea - it's already crawling with drug dealers, not to mention an active BIB scam to rip off tourists. A nice new court and detention complex available nearby on Samui. And has good transport links for familes, lawyers and mules.

Sgt-Major 1st class Venus Sijai?????

[sparebox2]

Phuket Island? here they come.

[JeremyBowskill]

Even if you send all drug dealers to devils island and cut out their tongues do you really think this will stop others taking their place??? This is a war that simply cannot be won, you just have to look at Americas futile attempts along with many other countries. I have no idea what the answer is to this horrible yabba and meth problem but i'm 100% sure this aint it!

[OzMick]

Even if you send all drug dealers to devils island and cut out their tongues do you really think this will stop others taking their place??? This is a war that simply cannot be won, you just have to look at Americas futile attempts along with many other countries. I have no idea what the answer is to this horrible yabba and meth problem but i'm 100% sure this aint it!

While your solution is a tad barbarous, it is certainly an advance on extra-judicial murder of suspected drug dealers. You could sugest it to your MP, it might get a run.

[champken]

The Island idea is not a bad one and should help to stop inmates continuing to ply their trade from inside, but until they clamp down on all the bent Police and military personnel that are involved in the drug trade, then the problem will persist

[Bagwan]

Wow! This drug problem has started to be treated just a tad more seriously now. Imagine that! A full Major has been implicated so they are shooting higher than usual. Apparently though with the scrabbled egg on a cap comes immunity. Maybe some time in the far distant future a Lt. Colonel or higher will be nabbed.

[Ned]

Mexico has the so called Drug Cartels......Thailand has the Army.

[Gone]

I think this is the latest proposal of the beach-side prison. The inmates will have Aligators on their t-shirts and will only be allowed to use COPY Taylor-Made clubs.

Edited January 28, 2012 by Gone

[phiphidon]

Devil's Island in Thailand?

Fantastic, a Thai Alcazar sorry Alcatraz

Thailand already has one.... or had one.

They could simply re-open the prison on Koh Tarutao.

It has already had its torture pits reconstructed.

Just make sure the island prison remains supplied this time around so as to prevent the guards and prisoners working together as

The Pirates of Tarutao.

(very good book).

Oh, Buchholz, I do hope you got the book out of a library and didn't buy one. Otherwise your money would have gone to a TRT Politician, Pongpol Adireksarn aka Paul Adirex, . Cue response comparing Thaksin/PTP/banned TRT/Red Shirts to "The Pirates of Tarutao"...........

[abhaya]

Stupid idea. Prisons are nothing but schools for crime, why put all your bad eggs in one basket, it will just make easier for them to get really organized. Besides the guys pulling the strings will never see a day of incarceration.

Edited January 28, 2012 by metisdead
Font reset.

[Buchholz]

Devil's Island in Thailand?

Fantastic, a Thai Alcazar sorry Alcatraz

Thailand already has one.... or had one.

They could simply re-open the prison on Koh Tarutao.

It has already had its torture pits reconstructed.

Just make sure the island prison remains supplied this time around so as to prevent the guards and prisoners working together as

The Pirates of Tarutao.

(very good book).

Oh, Buchholz, I do hope you got the book out of a library and didn't buy one. Otherwise your money would have gone to a TRT Politician, Pongpol Adireksarn aka Paul Adirex, Cue response comparing Thaksin/PTP/banned TRT/Red Shirts to "The Pirates of Tarutao"...........

Odd remarks...

but not wholly unexpected

.

[phiphidon]

Odd remarks...

but not wholly unexpected

.

Oh come on Buchholz, where's your sense of humour, it's not all work and no play on here is it?

Edited January 28, 2012 by phiphidon

[bridge2bridge]

At Last a GOOD IDEA from a Thai police Officer.

[Steele404]

more excuse for a percentage of the construction money will end up in pockets of the officers ...

[wlcart]

Even if you send all drug dealers to devils island and cut out their tongues do you really think this will stop others taking their place??? This is a war that simply cannot be won, you just have to look at Americas futile attempts along with many other countries. I have no idea what the answer is to this horrible yabba and meth problem but i'm 100% sure this aint it!

Legalize drugs, tax them, eliminate the criminal element, use the revenues for services to help users quit and education for prevention.

[DocHolliday]

will it look like the 'the rock' in San Francisco bay?

Edited January 28, 2012 by DocHolliday

[folium]

Even if you send all drug dealers to devils island and cut out their tongues do you really think this will stop others taking their place??? This is a war that simply cannot be won, you just have to look at Americas futile attempts along with many other countries. I have no idea what the answer is to this horrible yabba and meth problem but i'm 100% sure this aint it!

Legalize drugs, tax them, eliminate the criminal element, use the revenues for services to help users quit and education for prevention.

All hugely sensible and should have happened decades ago, but requires a bunch of politicians to commit career suicide to make it happen.

As a result don't hold your breath waiting for common sense to prevail and let's get back to the unwinnable but vote catching "look at us doing something about the problem" war on drugs.

Blame the suppliers rather than the consumers and meanwhile not only will we buy your illegal drugs but by doing so we provide you the cash to then buy our easy to purchase straight off the shelf military grade weaponry to kill thousands of your fellow citizens as you fight over the spoils from our insatiable demand for a currently illegal product.

Death toll in Mexico in the last 6 years related to the drug war now probably around the 50,000 mark (approx.15,000 in 2011 alone). Almost the same level as US deaths in Vietnam. Don't see too many protests about that.

[thaiorchidsource]

There is no need to nominate a new island for this purpose. Phuket would be perfect, and most of the drug dealers and criminals are already there, so no transport problems. Just put up the walls and here ya go. Just a thought!