Bangkok: Justice Minister Pol. Col. Thawee Sodsong has assigned the Secretary-General of the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB), Pol. Lt. Gen. Phanurat Lakboon, to travel urgently to Myanmar to expand the seizure of assets belonging to a major drug dealer, valued at 1 billion baht. This move is part of a broader strategy to combat drug trafficking networks operating across national borders.
According to Thai News Agency, the ONCB, in collaboration with various agencies, announced the results of the 4th Operation to Cut the Problem at the Start. This operation targeted the assets of eight suspects with arrest warrants and their relatives in Chiang Rai Province. The operation did not apprehend the individuals with arrest warrants; however, the authorities successfully seized assets, including two houses with land, two plots of vacant land, one car, and one luxury watch, totaling over 15.1 million baht in value.
Additionally, the ONCB is preparing to summon 12 individuals with suspicious financial trails to provide information on their financial transactions. Should these individuals fail to clarify the origins of their funds, they will face prosecution. Preliminary investigations estimate the assets of individuals within this network to exceed 97 million baht.
Pol. Lt. Gen. Phanurat revealed that the operation's origin traces back to the arrest of eight suspects on January 10, 2025, in Bangkok, where they were found with over 3 million methamphetamine pills. The drugs were linked to Mr. Thatchapol, also known as Achang or Sia Ma Bin, who orchestrated drug smuggling from Myanmar's Tachilek District into Thailand via Mae Sai District, Chiang Rai Province. The operation is part of a cooperative effort involving the ONCB and four other agencies under a memorandum of understanding to enhance efficiency in tackling drug-related and transnational organized crimes.
Mr. Thatchapol holds a significant position as a methamphetamine supplier with access to producers in Myanmar. He arranges for drug transport teams to smuggle narcotics into Thailand for domestic distribution or forwarding to third countries. His influence extends to providing accommodation and security for drug networks and Thai fugitives in Myanmar. Currently residing in Myanmar, Thatchapol operates businesses in Tachileik and Chiang Tung Provinces, amassing assets worth around 1 billion baht.
Pol. Col. Thawee emphasized that this operation marks a significant escalation in Thailand's collaboration with Myanmar to combat international drug trafficking. Given the pervasive nature of transnational crime networks, integrating intelligence from domestic and international agencies is crucial. Enhanced coordination and information exchange are expected to yield tangible results in dismantling these networks.
On July 2, 2025, Pol. Lt. Gen. Phanurat and his team will visit Myanmar to engage with top officials, including Myanmar's Commissioner-General of Police and Secretary-General of the Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control (CCDAC). The discussions aim to secure Myanmar's cooperation in addressing individuals with arrest warrants and seizing their assets.
The ONCB and its partners prioritize drug suppression at all levels, aligning with the government's focus on targeting major drug dealers and cutting off their operations. Since mid-2024, the ONCB has executed four operations, seizing significant assets and arresting individuals with arrest warrants. This latest operation continues the effort, focusing on dismantling drug networks and their financial infrastructures.