Bangkok: “Phumtham” has issued a policy to combat drug addiction through a collaborative mechanism involving the Ministry of Interior, the Royal Thai Police, and the Ministry of Public Health. The collaboration aims to prevent, suppress, and rehabilitate drug users, setting KPIs within three months to achieve tangible results and lead Thailand to zero drugs.
According to Thai News Agency, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, Mr. Phumtham Wechayachai, delivered a policy statement on drug suppression, emphasizing that Thailand must be drug-free throughout the country. Concrete results must be seen within three months, with a key indicator being that people in communities report being drug-free.
Mr. Phumtham also stated that within three months, a breaking point will emerge, and the outcome of the drug problem will be achieved. The focus is on villages and communities, using local security mechanisms jointly implemented by all three parties: the provincial governor, the provincial police commander, and the provincial public health officer. Furthermore, the military, responsible for the border seals, will also be involved in initial containment efforts, along with other sectors, including school directors and provincial education officers. If everyone is united, they can work together.
To ensure that the implementation of drug problem resolution efforts yields tangible results, operational guidelines have been provided for all sectors to expedite the process. Preventative measures involve integrating and coordinating information, deploying forces, and utilizing Village Security Forces and Territorial Defense Volunteers for surveillance. Roi Et and Nan provinces are commended as role models. All parties are urged to control and eliminate areas at risk of drug use and utilize community networks to prevent community members from becoming involved with drugs.
Provincial governors and provincial police commanders are tasked with identifying at-risk villages for proactive measures to control and regulate society. This includes breaking the cycle and blocking access to drugs, with checkpoints and interceptors required to deter crime. District chiefs are urged to implement measures to inspect border areas and expand coverage nationwide.
Mr. Phumtham emphasized the need for decisive and transparent suppression measures, with seamless cooperation between the police, military, local security units, and administrative mechanisms. Provincial governors will lead suppression efforts, supported by intelligence gathering. The Anti-Money Laundering Office will be involved in investigations to seize assets from large-scale dealers.
Rehabilitation measures focus on collaboration between governors and provincial public health officials to return quality individuals to society, treating drug users as patients rather than criminals. Rehabilitation centers will be developed at both district and local levels, with at least one center per province and a tracking system for those who have completed treatment.
The results of drug suppression operations in border provinces compared to nationwide show substantial arrests at the border, with a decrease in the interior. Arrests of traffickers must expand to include networks, and prosecution of government officials involved in drug trafficking must be strict and immediate. Community networks will be expanded to ensure drug-free villages and communities nationwide.
Mr. Phumtham expressed confidence in the determination and diligence of the Interior Ministry’s mechanisms at all levels, and the integrated power of key national agencies, to address the drug problem. Every village and community must be safe from drugs, and he expressed gratitude and encouragement to everyone for their dedicated work. Together, the aim is to achieve a drug-free Thailand through prevention, suppression, treatment, rehabilitation, and resilience-building, implementing the “No Drugs, No Dealers” approach to “Zero Drugs.”