Chalerm Wants Drug Runners Executed Faster

[Lite Beer]

Chalerm wants drug runners executed faster

Jessada Chuntraruk,

Piyanuch Thamnukasetchai

The Nation on Sunday

BANGKOK:-- Presiding over a press conference yesterday to announce the seizure in Chiang Rai of 2.5 million ya ba tablets and 50 kilograms of crystal meth, or "ice", worth Bt800 million, Deputy Premier Chalerm Yoobamrung vowed to change the law to ensure that drug dealers who are sentenced to death are executed within 30 days of the final verdict in their cases.

Chalerm also warned hospitals and pharmacists not to supply pseudoephedrine-based cold medicines to makers of ya ba and "ice", or they would face serious punishment.

Meanwhile, the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) said cold medicine from some 30 hospitals had reportedly been smuggled to drug networks. The DSI would probe Kalasin's Kamalasai Hospital and Chiang Mai's Doi Lor Hospital this week. Central Udon Thani Hospital clarified that a check of its cold medicine stocks for the past three years found that 4.8 million tablets had been embezzled - not 37 million tablets as some news agencies said.

During yesterday's conference at Suvarnabhumi Airport, where male suspect Damrong Samawawiang, 39, and females Hassareudee Arthorn-prachachit, 34, and Parichart Charoonwit, 27, were presented with the seized drugs, Chalerm said officials had been investigating the alleged drug ring since January. It allegedly sent drugs from Chiang Rai to Bangkok, leading to a stakeout at a Muang Chiang Rai house.

Police on Thursday followed the two female suspects, who had packed boxes at the house and taken them to Damrong at a warehouse on the Chiang Rai Super-Highway. Police presented themselves at the warehouse and searched the six boxes, in which they found the drugs, leading to the arrest of the three. The boxes were bound for Bangkok's Saphan Sung, with bogus names.

Damrong reportedly told police he sent such packages 10 times before in smaller amounts. Chalerm said the husband of Parichart, who rented the house, was arrested with accomplices in a previous bust involving 300,000 ya ba tablets and Bt3 million in assets.

Hassareudee - who is the sister of Parichart's husband - was arrested once before in a police sting with 200 ya ba tablets, Chalerm said. He added that the group didn't seem to fear the law or to have learnt a lesson, so they deserved the severest punishment. He said he would propose an amendment requiring drug dealers sentenced to death to be executed within 30 days of their final verdict, as drug-trafficking was a serious issue and many inmates continued to deal drugs in jail.

The National Command Centre for Drugs (NCCD) said that from Sept 11, 2011 to March 15 authorities had arrested 321 suspected ya ba dealers and seized 26 million tablets; plus 143 suspected "ice" dealers and seized 600kg of the drug. They also seized 200kg of heroin, 4.6 tonnes of marijuana, 13.7kg of cocaine and 4.2 million tablets with pseudoephedrine.

Commenting on the probe into alleged theft of cold medicine at Central Udon Thani Hospital, Uttaradit's Thong Saeng Khan Hospital and Chiang Mai's Doi Lor Hospital, DSI chief Tharit Pengdit said investigators had traced drug-lot numbers and found a link to a February 18 cold-medicine seizure in Chiang Mai. Tharit said the DSI-Food and Drug Administration probe found many hospitals and clinics bought suspiciously large amounts of cold medicine.

Based on the lot numbers, he said three public hospitals, one private hospital, eight clinics and one pharmacy were linked to the Chiang Mai cold-medicine seizure. He said this had led to a suspicion that a gang was siphoning cold medicine from the public health system through some 30 hospitals to San Kamphaeng in Chiang Mai for narcotics production.

After the case at Kalasin's Kamalapisai Hospital, in which 356,535 cold medicine tablets were missing, was made public, three drug-dispensing personnel were suspended and face disciplinary probes. Kalasin deputy police said an initial investigation found at least five people were involved. A check of last year's receipts found 21 had inflated the amount of drugs actually distributed. The case report would be sent to the Drug Suppression Police this week.

Police also seized 9,019 ya ba tablets in Rayong's Klaeng district, but the suspect, Theerawat Sriserm, 24, the son of an official, fled. Police seized 32,000 ya ba tablets in Lop Buri's Tha Wung district but the alleged owner, female village head Panida Meejaijeu, 33, fled.

A policeman lines up heavy packs of illicit drugs in preparation for yesterday's press conference at Suvarnabhumi Airport about the seizure.

-- The Nation 2012-03-18

[BigRick]

I guess this same rule should not apply to cop killers. It is funny that mister tough on crime has a son who is a cop killer. How is that punishment working out for him? Ohh that is right Daddy plays by the double standard rule. There are rules for the non "elites" and "elites".

[monty1412]

I dont mind the idea of clear unequivocal guilt for large scale drug sellers and runner being the death penalty and done quickly after sentence ala Singapore style however i don't like fact that these folks are hauled up and displayed as they are for a political grandstanding conference.

They have enough on their plate to fear and while its their own doing and no sympathy I dont think they should have to be part of Chalerms circus routine

[Bluespunk]

Ah "mr sound bite"  strikes again. What is it about his ego that requires him to have an instant solution for everything?

[JimShortz]

Astounding, almost... that " Central Udon Thani Hospital clarified that a check of its cold medicine stocks for the past three years found that 4.8 million tablets had been embezzled - not 37 million tablets as some news agencies said."

That's some runny nose...

[Reasonableman]

No stocktake/inventory for 3 years, huh? Nuff said.

Astounding, almost... that " Central Udon Thani Hospital clarified that a check of its cold medicine stocks for the past three years found that 4.8 million tablets had been embezzled - not 37 million tablets as some news agencies said."

That's some runny nose...

[OzMick]

An example of Thai drug law justice:

9 persons in a truck, 8 paying fuel costs for a ride to BKK. Stopped by BIB and searched and a bag of ya ba pills found. All deny any knowledge or ownership. 8 found guilty of possession despite lack of finger-print evidence, sentenced to 12 years EACH. Driver doesn't face court.

The obvious answer to such miscarriages of justice - kill them quickly.

[Reasonableman]

Law courts, like doctors, burying (and cremating) their mistakes.

[americaninbangkok]

Ah "mr sound bite" strikes again. What is it about his ego that requires him to have an instant solution for everything?

Well... no actual progress is being made for the people... might as well use the free time to make ridiculous pronouncements.

[americaninbangkok]

"Police also seized 9,019 ya ba tablets in Rayong's Klaeng district, but the suspect, Theerawat Sriserm, 24, the son of an official, fled. Police seized 32,000 ya ba tablets in Lop Buri's Tha Wung district but the alleged owner, female village head Panida Meejaijeu, 33, fled."

Once caught, will they be killed under Chalerm's latest whimsical plan?

Or more likely, once they turn themselves in, will they be given a stern lecture and told to "never never never do tis again"? And Chalerm wonders why they "didn't seem to fear the law or to have learnt a lesson". After all, you just go out and kill/steal all you want. If you think you're gonna get caught, walk over to the latest police station and make a deal: do the "perp walk" in front of the cameras, give 50k to the local temple, another 150k to officers/officials, and get their names in the papers... then they let you go, and all is forgotten.

[edwinchester]

If this goes ahead then the Royal Thai Police had better launch a recruitment drive as a significant number will be 'departing'.

Posted with Thaivisa App http://apps.thaivisa.com

[Pib]

Ah "mr sound bite" strikes again. What is it about his ego that requires him to have an instant solution for everything?

Egomaniacs are like that.

[Heimdallr]

Chalerm wants no witnesses left alive.

[WhizBang]

How about a fair trial (no lost evidence, no intimidation of witnesses) for cop killers and when convicted a swift execution?

Oh, right... double standards.

[DP25]

Executed within 30 days, I guess Chalerm now has confidence in the judiciary to reach the correct verdict. I'm sure he's gonna get right on enforcing some of the previous verdicts against his master. No double standards, right?

[Crushdepth]

I'd rather see the implementation of sentences for criminal politicians sped up.

[maidu]

Was he drunk when he made that statement? In the photo, he's bent over and supporting himself on the table edge.

If he's such a great expample of disciplinarian, why are all three of his sons such rowdy punks?

If he wants death penalties for drug dealers, then does that apply to dealers of Thailand's most harmful drug?

Will we see liquor store owners, Seagram, Chivas, and JW executives rounded up and executed? Not likely

And while Chalerm's shenanigan hypocritical grandstanding is going on, hemp is classified as a class-5 drug in Thailand, though no one has ever been stoned on hemp (can't happen, doesn't have enough THC to stone a grasshopper). Thai authorities need to learn the basics about drugs (opiates, pharma, alcohol, etc) before they can realistically criminalize them.

[terryp]

What a sad little man this is, Who gave him the right to take anyone's life on this Planet?

It is about time all these so called HiSo elite were put in prison for crimes against humanity

I understand the full drugs issue but that is what the legal system and courts are for...not some egotist who wants to pleasure his master

Thailand you have no hope with people like this & to think this person was almost PM ????????

[champken]

_{Wether you believe in the death penalty or not, the one crucial area of concern for me is the totally corrupt Thai legal system, so i suppose those without money or the right connections would be put to death quickly without anybody really giving a toss about a fair trial or planted evidence}

[jaapfries]

I guess this same rule should not apply to cop killers. It is funny that mister tough on crime has a son who is a cop killer. How is that punishment working out for him? Ohh that is right Daddy plays by the double standard rule. There are rules for the non "elites" and "elites".

"LONG LIVE BUDDHISM ! ! ! ! !"

You know the difference between a "Disaster" & a "Catastrophy" ? ? ? ?

It's a disaster if Chalerm and his terrific sons drove their Benz of a 1,000 Ft. Cliff; it's a catastrophy if they would survive the ordeal ! ! ! ! ! !

This man is a Moron of Epic Proportions !

[Crushdepth]

What a sad little man this is, Who gave him the right to take anyone's life on this Planet?

It is about time all these so called HiSo elite were put in prison for crimes against humanity

I understand the full drugs issue but that is what the legal system and courts are for...not some egotist who wants to pleasure his master

Thailand you have no hope with people like this & to think this person was almost PM ????????

You could also ask the same of his sons. Lovely family. Bastions of morality.

[meom]

Executed within 30 days, I guess Chalerm now has confidence in the judiciary to reach the correct verdict. I'm sure he's gonna get right on enforcing some of the previous verdicts against his master. No double standards, right?

Within 30 days after the final verdict.

Not sure what is the final verdict.

The way I understand it you can still appeal to the crown for clemency after the final verdict which can take a lot of time (years).

The article is not clear on what consttutes the final verdict and if appeal to the crown is part of it.

[foxylady]

there are proably somone in jail where the drugs ave been planted, thay must have a change, at least

[SouthernMan3]

Chalerm wants drug runners executed faster

I haven't read the article yet but my first impression upon reading the headline is : this would definitely discourage them.

Now to read.....

[SouthernMan3]

I guess this same rule should not apply to cop killers. It is funny that mister tough on crime has a son who is a cop killer. How is that punishment working out for him? Ohh that is right Daddy plays by the double standard rule. There are rules for the non "elites" and "elites".

True the world over my friend !

[SouthernMan3]

Yo everybody,

This is not about Charelm.

This is about drugs and Thailand.

These people are scum and prey off the poor.

We are better off without them !

[hansnl]

Kill them fast before they are able to tell someone who is the boss?????

[Soupdragon]

Yo everybody,

This is not about Charelm.

This is about drugs and Thailand.

These people are scum and prey off the poor.

We are better off without them !

The people you are talking about are the poor who are employed as mules. Notice how the big fish never get caught.

[Grumbles]

What a sad little man this is, Who gave him the right to take anyone's life on this Planet?

It is about time all these so called HiSo elite were put in prison for crimes against humanity

I understand the full drugs issue but that is what the legal system and courts are for...not some egotist who wants to pleasure his master

Thailand you have no hope with people like this & to think this person was almost PM ????????

Sad little man or not, the sooner the death penalty for proven drug traffickers is enforced, the sooner it will slow the trade down. It also cancels completely the possibility of re-offending. Frees up jail space, and will be a deterrent to all but the most serious criminals or the most serious idiots ('nuff said). som num na

[Crushdepth]

Yo everybody,

This is not about Charelm.

This is about drugs and Thailand.

These people are scum and prey off the poor.

We are better off without them !

I thought you said this was not about Chalerm?