Crime networks 'running free'

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has also voiced concerns about Thailand becoming a narcotics-manufacturing base.

Natee Jitsawang, deputy director of Thailand Institute of Justice (TIJ), told a seminar entitled “New Face of Crimes and how Thailand can Tackle them” yesterday that the institute’s latest study had learned that some 22 transnational criminal gangs were running amok in Thailand. 

They included electronic card-skimming gangs from Europe, four gangs of burglars and thieves from Latin America, car-stealing gangs from Cambodia and Laos and Vietnamese pickpockets. In addition, some African fraudsters dupe people by using banknotes dyed in black as bait, while Middle East gangs steal from hotels, he said. 

“The study learned that these foreign criminals dared to commit crimes in Thailand because law-enforcement here is not severe and Thai people are generally kind. Hence, when criminals get caught, Thai police file charges without considering the fact that they are part of a transnational gang. Also, since many victims of the card-skimmers live outside Thailand, these fraudsters can get away with petty punishments. Also, suspects often jump bail during police investigation and flee the country only to return with a new, clean identity,” he pointed out. 

Natee added that TIJ would discuss this issue with justice officials and find a way to urgently solve the problem. 

Jeremy Douglas, UNODC regional representative for Southeast Asia and the Pacific, said his agency found that the level of drug trafficking, especially in terms of methamphetamine, was very worrisome. Citing a recent report of 3 tonnes of methamphetamine pills being seized in China, he said trade in narcotics had expanded to become an industry and that the production hub of methamphetamine and “ice” had reportedly moved to Thailand from the Philippines. 

He also said the Kingdom reportedly served as a production centre for ivory products as well as a transition point. 

Meanwhile, Mahidol University (MU) social studies lecturer Punchada Sirivunnabood said many countries were concerned about the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS)’s plan to expand its caliphates across the world, which could possible bring about a world war. She said ISIS was targeting three Asean countries, namely Indonesia, Myanmar and the Philippines, but there is no report of any ISIS activity in Thailand.