Chief of Staff of the Royal Thai Armed Forces: Chief of Defence Forces orders service chiefs and police chief to prepare for threats in all dimensions

Today (29 October 2026) at 10:59 AM at the Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters, General Nattapong Prawkaew, Chief of Staff of the Royal Thai Armed Forces, announced the outcomes of a meeting among the heads of the armed services. He stated that General Ukrit Boontanont, Chief of Defence Forces, has instructed the service chiefs and the Commissioner-General of the Royal Thai Police to ensure readiness to counter threats in all forms. Furthermore, a meeting of the Centre for the Prevention and Resolution of Border Security Threats (CPRBST) will be held on 30 October 2026, as part of a regular schedule. Key objectives include the suppression of narcotics and monitoring progress in combating transnational crime specifically issues related to scammers and human trafficking. Regarding the movement of goods, the authorities will utilize the 1981 Emergency Decree on Border Goods Control to facilitate integrated, coordinated action. Currently, over 70 types of items including chemicals, precursor substances, and SIM cards are subject to control; any exports of these goods must pass through permanent border checkpoints.

General Nattapong added that the handling of such items will require further discussion, particularly among border command centers, regarding the establishment of inspection points, checkpoints, and screening measures practices that have already been consistently implemented. These measures will be reviewed in greater detail. While past crackdowns have forced these networks to retreat deeper into the interior of neighboring countries, we must continue to take action within our own territory. This requires an integrated approach involving relevant authorities and international cooperation, alongside efforts to raise awareness among our own citizens. Regarding the issue of Chinese tourists being trafficked to the Myanmar border via Thailand, we are actively working to address it; while it is acknowledged that some cases may still slip through, a collective effort is required. Within the structure of the Border Security and Order Management Center (BSOMC), there is already a dedicated police task force assigned to handle this specific issue.