Two senior police officers in Hat Yai have been transferred as part of the government's stepped-up campaign against influential crime figures.
The transfer came as national police commander Chakthip Chaijinda issued a threat to immediately sideline any officer thought to be involved in any illegal activity or suspected of being an influential crime figure.
The chief of Hat Yai police station and the head of its traffic division are thought to be the first transferred under the government’s crackdown on "dark influences".
Pol Gen Chakthip admitted that about 200 police officers including several generals are included in the “influential crime figures” blacklist.
They are among 6,000 influential figures nationwide who are being targeted by the National Council for Peace and Order under the crackdown.
Those on the list are suspected of involvement in 16 types of illegal activity targeted by the government.
They include drug trafficking, illegal money lending, illegal arms trading, running illegal entertainment venues, human trafficking, extortion of taxi motorcyclists and prostitution.
In an order signed by Police Region 9 Bureau commissioner Pol Lt Gen Weerapong Chuenphakdee, the two senior officers have been reassigned to the bureau’s operations centre.
The order, which took effect on Friday, does not provide any other details. It says the transfer is to ensure the bureau’s operations are efficient and in compliance with the policies of the government and the Royal Thai Police.
A source at the Region 9 said that while the transfers were a consequence of the government’s crackdown on "dark influences", it does not mean the pair are influential figures.
He said another 19 police officers in Region 9 may face transfer as the crackdown continues.
The Region 9 Bureau supervises police in the southern provinces of Songkhla, Satun, Phatthalung and Trang.
The source said the transfer of the two Hat Yai officers, while not an indication of criminal involvement, would likely boost efficiency in tackling influential criminal figures in the area.
He said the move may have had something to do with recent casino raids in Hat Yai.
At least two raids on major Hat Yai gambling dens have been conducted since the beginning of this year. In late January, Hat Yai police took part in two gambling raids which were led by the military and administrative officials.
Songkhla commander Pol Maj Gen Krissakorn Plithanyawong yesterday rejected speculation that the transfer of the station chief was triggered by the casino raids.
He said the bureau had “other assignments” for the officer.
However, the transfer of the head of the traffic division was in line with the crackdown on "dark influences", he said.
The traffic commander said yesterday the transfer order had caught him off guard. He insisted he had never been engaged in illegal activities.
He said he took his job seriously and was tough on traffic law violations, and he should not have been accorded influential figure status.
He said there must have been a mistake and he is ready to defend himself.
Pol Gen Chakthip said examination of the list of 200 police officers identified as influential figures will be completed next week.
Those found to be involved in illegal activities will be transferred and face both disciplinary and criminal investigation.
Pol Gen Chakthip also gave assurances that wrongdoers would not be protected amid concerns police officers might be lenient with their peers.
The 16 illegal activities targeted also include forest encroachment and destruction of natural resources, the drug trade in prisons, tax evasion, loan sharking and duping foreign tourists.
The national police chief played down his order to chiefs of police stations to directly report major crimes to Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon through Tourism Police Division commander Pol Maj Gen Surachet Hakpan.
He said the order, which is widely seen as strange, is nothing but internal police force management aimed at efficiency.