Police lose drug suppression lead

The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) plans to authorise provincial governors and district chiefs to take the lead in narcotics suppression in their areas instead of local police 

In a three-hour meeting on narcotic suppression policies with 1,350 provincial authorities at the Army Club on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road in Bangkok on Thursday, assistant army chief Gen Paiboon Khumchaya, who supervises legal and justice affairs for the NCPO, said that authority over narcotics suppression would be taken back from the police and politicians and delegated to provincial governors and district chiefs as the latter were naturally responsible for the well-being of their local people.

Gen Paiboon said laws would be amended to give the authority to provincial governors and district chiefs and it would include the power to promote and demote government officials in areas under their jurisdiction as far as drug suppression was concerned.

"You can tell me right away what the problems are and which laws must be amended. I can do it in seven days but you must do your best," Gen Paiboon told the meeting of provincial authorities including provincial governors, district chiefs and provincial police commanders.

The assistant army chief said during the tenure of the Pheu Thai-led coalition when former labour minister Chalerm Yubamrung supervised drug operations, power over narcotics suppression had been transferred to the police, and provincial governors had been powerless on drug control.

Gen Paiboon said narcotics problems and influential groups were rampant in Pattaya. He warned the authorities involved to stay away from illicit businesses or they would face tough action.

After the meeting, Gen Paiboon told reporters that the Ministry of Interior, which supervises provincial governors and district chiefs, will take the lead in narcotics suppression and provincial authorities would assigned to tackle narcotics problems systematically within three months.

He gave an assurance that he would support provincial and district authorities in their mission. He said he felt provincial governors and district chiefs were ready to take up the task.


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