Thai Police Trainer’s ‘Passion’ for Fighting Drugs in Southeast Asia — Global Affairs – News Block

The trainee police officers are part of a network of law enforcement specialists in Thailand, but also throughout the region, who are cooperating across borders to stop the trafficking operations of international crime syndicates.

They are collaborating under the Border Liaison Offices (BLO) network, with the support of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

Lieutenant Colonel Amonrat Wathanakhosit is based in Thai Police Training Center Region 5 in northern Thailand.

“I am currently working with trainees at a police checkpoint on Highway 1, approximately 40 kilometers south of the Thai-Myanmar border, in the far north of Thailand. There is a continuous circulation of traffic to and from the border area, including private and commercial vehicles, as well as public transportation.

This checkpoint is here to try to stem the flow of drugs like methamphetamine from Myanmar north through Thailand and into other countries in the region. In a way, this is work that is saving our country from the danger of drugs.

This is practical work. Students are stopping and registering vehicles one by one. They do not use any technology, just their knowledge of trafficking and their commitment to serve and protect their communities.

intercept drugs

They pick drivers at random for questioning and then assess the person’s behavior to come to a decision as to whether they may be concealing drugs. Little by little, these trainees become safer and therefore more effective in their jobs and can help colleagues from other law enforcement agencies to interdict the drugs. Recently, we have been very successful in seizing methamphetamine pills.

If drivers are suspected of being under the influence of drugs, they can also be tested here, after they provide a urine sample.

UNODC has supported the training programme, which provides trainees with useful knowledge in detecting suspicious vehicles and other abnormal activities.

The training has been very successful and I think that in the future we could even train officers from the neighboring countries of Myanmar and Laos. I believe that this type of cross-border collaboration would enable joint operations to stop drug manufacturing and trafficking.

Excessive methamphetamine production

One of the biggest challenges we face is having enough officers working at these checkpoints to counter the excessive production of methamphetamine. These officers have other duties and responsibilities, so they don’t spend all their time interdicting drugs.

However, the training work that I am involved in is my inspiration, passion and strength. It’s not hard work for me. I am grateful for the continued support of the Office of the Narcotics Control Board and UNODC.

My son is 18 years old and a university student, and I tell him about the bad guys I encounter at work and the danger of narcotics, how they can destroy people and societies. He understands that my job is to try to stop drugs.”