National police chief Somyot Pumpunmuang has taken over the campaign to crack down on drugs and sent one of his major rivals for the top spot at the Royal Thai Police Office to a less important job.
Pol Gen Somyot used his first day as chief on Wednesday to issue orders on job assignments for other generals, giving himself direct supervision of the drug clampdown which once was under the control of deputy police commander Pongsapat Pongcharoen.
Pol Gen Pongsapat, however, will be first choice among his aides to help fight drugs.
Deputy police chief Ek Angsananon was moved from crime suppression to take charge of legal affairs and investigations, while another deputy, Pol Gen Worapong Chiewpreecha, takes his previous posting.
Pol Gen Ek and Pol Gen Pongsapat were rivals to Pol Gen Somyot for the top position at the police head office before the National Police Policy Commission, chaired by Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha, chose Pol Gen Somyot in August because he could work with the National Council for Peace and Order.
Pol Gen Ek was his closest rival in the contest.
Chakthip Chaichinda was given the key duty of being in charge of security.
A police source said the order clipped the wings of Pol Gen Ek as he was delegated to assignments which are less important than his previous job.
The order also underlined the trust Pol Gen Somyot has in Pol Lt Gen Chakthip by giving him the leading role in security affairs.
Other senior police officers with close links to the previous government were ordered to oversee the police operations centre at headquarters with no prominent assignments, the source noted.