THURSDAY, March 28, 2024
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Southern Army chief orders tightening of security at border

Southern Army chief orders tightening of security at border

The southern Army chief has ordered the tightening of security along the Thai-Malaysian border after bombers reportedly smuggled explosives across to launch attacks in Bangkok, a spokesman said Thursday.

Col Thanawee Suwanrat, deputy spokesman of the Internal Security Operations Command for Area 4, said Fourth Army Area commander Lt Gen Pornsak Poosawat gave the order when he visited the Sadao border checkpoint in Songkhla’s Sadao district and the Sungai Kolok border checkpoint in Narathiwat’s Sungai Kolok district on Wednesday.
Thanawee said Pornsak made the visit to inspect the operations and held meetings with government agencies on security and measures to prevent cross-border activities.
The spokesman said the southern Army chief wants to increase efficiency in maintaining security at the border and introduce further measures for preventing smuggling of drugs, contraband and 23 controlled agricultural crops.
At the order of the southern Army chief, all government agencies concerned have integrated operations by using manpower and tools to watch over the land and marine borderlines, the spokesman added.
He said the southern Army also stepped up intelligence operations in border areas and used patrol units to guard the border at 94 natural points often used by people to sneak across. 
Thanawee said the Army chief had ordered the setting up of more road checkpoints to check those who might have sneaked across the border and managed to smuggle contraband or narcotics. 
Walk-through x-ray machines have been installed at the two checkpoints, and female rangers are deployed to search women who cross the checkpoints for possible illegal items, the spokesman added.
He said the southern Army chief also plans to install fingerprint readers at all border checkpoints as another security measure.

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