Pol Gen Pongsapat Pongcharoen took his sacking yesterday as Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) secretary-general in his stride, saying he had expected it.
Pol Gen Pongsapat's removal from the ONCB's top post was ordered during the National Council for Peace and Order's (NCPO) 84th Order, broadcast live on Thursday night. He will remain as deputy national police chief.
The removal was long expected due to his close connections with the Pheu Thai Party. He ran as the Pheu Thai candidate for Bangkok governor in 2013.
The dual posts at the ONCB and National Police Office were given to him by the Yingluck Shinawatra government.
He was replaced at the ONCB by his deputy Permpong Chaovalit, 59.
"I knew beforehand that it was going to happen," Pol Gen Pongsapat said.
During the same announcement the NCPO also transferred Corrections Department chief Suchart Wong-anantachai to inspector-general at the Justice Ministry.
Pol Gen Pongsapat said that as deputy national police chief he will still have many responsibilities. He said the community police project will keep him particularly busy.
The project will see him encouraging locals to cooperate with police.
Pol Gen Pongsapat said he supported the decision to appoint Mr Permpong as his successor, given that Mr Permpong was very familiar with the ONCB's work.
Mr Permpong said yesterday he was very surprised yet happy to hear of his promotion.