Police have set their sights on combating human trafficking and mafia influence and found a gathering place of migrant workers close to Bangkok where they can practice a systematic crackdown operation.
Talad Thai, the country's largest wholesale market for agricultural products in Pathum Thani to the north of Bangkok, provides the police with a real-life situation where they can launch a comprehensive crackdown on activities ranging from human trade to other serious crimes such as drugs and predatory lending, according to Crime Suppression Division (CSD) chief Akkaradej Pimolsri.
He said various crimes can occur in the vast market and the local police are not adequately equipped to suppress them.
Talad Thai on the Asian Highway is known for its bustling trade. It is home to a large community of migrant workers, some of whom fall prey to labour exploitation and illegal trafficking.
It gave the police an overview of how criminal activities are interconnected. Police hope to design a comprehensive crime suppression model which, if successful, could be applied elsewhere in the country.
The so-called "Talad Thai model" will be explained to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha before it is approved for use in other areas.
In the Sept 17 raid, a large contingent of police and military were mobilised in and around the 500-rai market. Apart from the 350 CSD police, 150 soldiers from the 1st Army and another 30 police from the Narcotics Suppression Bureau also took part.
Their initial goal was to help local police, who face limited resources and manpower, deal with large-scale criminal offences in the market.
Based on the raid, the CSD categorised key crimes which take place in Talad Thai. Topping the list is human trafficking, which is the most serious, followed by organised crime, mafia influence, drugs and loan sharks. "Our emphasis is on human trade," Pol Maj Gen Akkaradej said.
He insisted the raid did not result from pressure from Washington to solve human trafficking. "We've found the human trade is linked to local influential figures in the area," he said, adding that human trafficking in Talad Thai also leads to forced labour and prostitution.
Pol Maj Gen Akkaradej said tackling problems that stem from human trafficking requires cooperation from employers.
The CSD plans to adopt methods to keep employers and employees in check and prevent crime.
They include surveying and compiling records of labourers and their bosses, having workers wear T-shirts with different colours, educating employers and seeking help from local people.
The migrants will be assigned different coloured shirts to wear according to their countries of origin and with the names of their employers printed on them. The workers will also wear an ID badge.
Akkaradej: Employers must work with police
The move will help police detect where the workers gather. The authorities can also easily identify and reach them if need be, according to the CSD. The measures will be carried out along with the police registration of workers and their bosses.
Key details of the workers will be recorded, including whether they have relatives and friends who also work in Thailand. This will help systematise employment at Talad Thai for security and crime suppression purposes, Pol Maj Gen Akkaradej said.
At the same time, the employers will be informed of the laws and penalties against human trafficking. Local people also will be asked to report any suspicious activities at the market.
Pol Maj Gen Akkaradej added authorities also planned to rein in influential figures at the market.
The police are compiling a list of mafia individuals in Pathum Thani who may be active at the market. Similar arrangements are planned for loan sharks and drug peddlers.
Pol Maj Gen Akkaradej said police will take tough legal measures against offenders if they fail to heed warnings to cease their activities. The loan sharks, for example, could be charged with tax evasion and face criminal prosecution.
Drug problems also need urgent attention as Talad Thai is believed to be a transit point of drugs transported mainly from the North to Bangkok.
In the view of the CSD, the problems at Talad Thai could well represent a microcosm of the criminal situation in other areas of the country.
Contact Crime Track: crimetrack@bangkokpost.co.th