Seven government officials were arrested in the nationwide “Kick Off 1386: Tackling Every Drug Problem” operation which cracked down on small-scale drug dealers and their associates in 21 provinces last month, according to the Justice Ministry.
Minister Pol Lt Gen Rutthapon Naowarat announced the results of the campaign on Wednesday.
The operation, coordinated by the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB), was carried out in 87 districts at 161 locations. It involved the cooperation of ONCB secretary-general Pol Maj Suriya Singhakamon and Pol Lt Gen Achayon Kraithong, commissioner of the Narcotics Suppression Bureau (NSB).
Kanisorn Papeeranon, director of the ONCB’s Drug Suppression Bureau, reported that from Oct 1-31, the ONCB’s 1368 hotline received 3,184 complaints, of which 329 (10.33%) were acted upon. Among these, 31 cases involved allegations against state officials.
The operation targeted 156 individuals, including seven government officials suspected of involvement in drug-related activities.
Authorities discovered evidence of illegal activity among 62 people, arrested 39, and sent 23 to rehabilitation programmes. Seized items included 2,700 methamphetamine pills, 65.6 grammes of crystal meth (“ice”), 2.8g of ketamine, and assets. Another 18 locations remain under active investigation.
Pol Gen Rutthaphol praised the joint effort among government agencies and community leaders, noting that local residents’ cooperation via the 1386 hotline played a crucial role in the success of the mission.
He said the operation achieved “satisfactory results in all dimensions”, adding similar efforts would be intensified in Bangkok.
Regarding the arrested government officials, Pol Lt Gen Rutthapon said they were directly involved in drug trading and distribution.