The Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) launched "Operation Remove the Rot" to purge state officials involved in transnational drug trafficking networks. They arrested Sergeant Major Nonthapat with financial evidence linking him to coordinating drug shipments and transferring drug money.
On 17 February 2026, reporters covered the urgent policy of Police Lieutenant Colonel Suriya Singhakomol, Secretary-General of the ONCB, who launched a proactive operation called "Operation Remove the Rot" to root out and eradicate state officials at all levels involved with drug trafficking networks. The campaign focuses on promoting transparency in government and restoring public trust. Its key approach is uncompromising enforcement—no protection will be given to officials if evidence links them to drug trafficking networks at any level, local or transnational. Those found guilty will face the highest criminal and disciplinary penalties, including asset forfeiture to support investigations and prosecutions. This effort aims to rebuild public confidence by signaling that government agencies must be clean and genuinely serve the people.
The ONCB launched "Operation Remove the Rot" to arrest state officials collaborating with transnational drug trafficking gangs. The arrested officer was a police official responsible for investigative and suppression duties in northeastern Thailand. On 2 February, the ONCB coordinated with Police Major General Kittisak Jamrasprasert, Deputy Commander of Region 4 Police.
They proceeded to arrest Sergeant Major Nonthapat (surname withheld) under an arrest warrant issued by Bueng Kan Provincial Court No. 26/2569 dated 1 February. Sergeant Major Nonthapat played a role in coordinating and supervising drug shipments and receiving drug money transfers alongside a Laos-based transnational drug trafficking network. The warrant stemmed from a case dated 10 November 2025, when Bueng Kan Police arrested one suspect with 1,594,000 methamphetamine pills in Bueng Kan Province.
In that case, ONCB investigators conducted follow-up investigations for over three months, gathering evidence to request the court to issue arrest warrants for four individuals: three civilians and one state official. Evidence included financial trails and other proofs leading to the warrants. The accused are Mrs. Phuweiang (surname withheld), a Laotian who ordered drugs from Laos into Thailand; Mr. Chanyut (surname withheld), a Thai involved in arranging vehicles for transport; Ms. Punyavee (surname withheld), a Thai also involved in vehicle procurement; and Sergeant Major Nonthapat, who coordinated drug transport and money transfers with the Laos drug trafficking network.
Between 30 January and 2 February, the ONCB arrested four individuals under warrants (one state official, one Laotian, two Thais): Sergeant Major Nonthapat, 27; Mrs. Phuweiang, Laotian, 30; Mr. Chanyut, Thai, 38; and Ms. Punyavee, Thai, 48. Arrests occurred in Bang Lamung District, Chonburi Province, extending to Nakhon Phanom and Khon Kaen provinces. Authorities seized assets totaling 1.6 million baht, three vehicles, and froze four bank accounts containing 985,837 baht.
Investigations revealed Mrs. Phuweiang, a Laotian transnational drug trafficker, orchestrated drug procurement from Laos into Thailand. She arranged transport teams and coordinated with state officials to facilitate the smugglers. She was complicit in drug trafficking activities. In 2025, six cases involving her led to arrests of six suspects and seizures of 5,800,000 methamphetamine pills and 917 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine in Nakhon Ratchasima, Bueng Kan, Saraburi, and Ratchaburi provinces.
The ONCB Secretary-General assigned the Counsellor for Drug Control at the Royal Thai Embassy in Vientiane to meet with Colonel Paeng Saiyawong, Head of the Anti-Drug Police Department in Laos, to discuss cooperation on joint investigative operations between Thailand and Laos. They aim to expand the case's scope by investigating individuals and assets involved to prosecute those responsible. Despite ongoing drug trafficking activities by the group, the priority remains eradicating corrupt law enforcement officials complicit in drug crimes and fully investigating and seizing assets related to all involved parties.
Police Lieutenant Colonel Suriya stated that drug problems threaten national security, but a critical obstacle has been some state officials abusing their authority—supporting, facilitating, or becoming part of drug trafficking networks. The ONCB designated this operation as the main mechanism to cleanse government agencies. The ONCB urges public cooperation to report suspicious state officials involved in drugs via the 24-hour hotline 1386, assuring that informants' identities will be kept strictly confidential.