The Thai police can proudly report that suspects have been arrested in fifteen drug cases, but the Ministry of Justice is not satisfied. It usually concerns errand boys, the big bosses remain unaffected. Those big bosses are often high officials, police officers, influential businessmen and even senior military personnel.
Justice Department Permanent Secretary Wisit chairs a panel that oversees drug and human trafficking cases involving state officials. According to him, the investigations have made significant progress, but so far only low-ranking officials and accomplices have been arrested.
The cases under investigation include the smuggling of Rohingya refugees in the South and two human trafficking cases in Ban Nam Phieng Din (Mae Hong Son) and Phu Rua (Loei).
Wisit wants officials guilty of human trafficking to be fired. Disciplinary and criminal action should be taken against those protecting suspicious officials. The investigation panel also wants to prosecute officials who have had paid sex with underage girls.
DSI head Paisit says the DSI is focusing on investigating money flows and tapping telephone conversations of officials suspected of human and/or drug trafficking. This is how they want to find out about the clients. The Anti-Trafficking in Persons Division hunts down government officials who have taken bribes.
Photo above: Arrests of female pimps in connection with human trafficking in Mae Hong Son in April this year. Underage women were offered to high officials for sex against payment.
Source: Bangkok Post