PHUKET, Thailand – Deputy Minister of Interior Worasit Liangprasit outlined the ministry’s enforcement actions following the prime minister’s directives to investigate and suppress influential criminal networks in major tourism destinations. The Deputy Minister stated that operations will extend beyond Phuket to encompass all problematic areas, with a focus on key tourism provinces, including Surat Thani, Krabi, and Phang Nga.
The security crackdown follows a prior field visit to Phuket by Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, which revealed that certain illicit groups continued to violate regulations without fear of legal consequences. In response, the government implemented personnel adjustments to clear the path for a new task force to address the deep-rooted issues. The Ministry of Interior expressed confidence that the situation will stabilize under the new management and warned that any state officials found complicit with or supporting influential figures will face severe disciplinary action upon verification of misconduct.
The Deputy Minister noted that no fixed deadline has been set for the operation, but the core objective remains achieving measurable results as rapidly as possible. In addition to the executive branch accelerating these solutions, various legislative committees are prioritizing the issue and preparing to conduct independent field inspections. (NNT)
