"Anutin" urges the National Police Chief to expose the Chinese arms accumulation network, stating that no wrongdoer will be spared. He insists there is no need to overhaul civil registration, warning not to condemn the whole boat for one rotten fish.
On 11 May 2026, Anutin Charnvirakul, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, spoke about allegations of laxity among state officials in issuing civil registration and granting nationality to foreigners, which led to ID card misuse. He affirmed that the current system is highly stringent and ordered an expanded crackdown on Chinese war weapon networks.
The Prime Minister said that the process for nationality checks and approvals is now very rigorous, especially after recent news reports. He asked for understanding not to generalize the image of agencies based on isolated errors. "Don't judge the entire boat by one rotten fish." Regarding overhauling the system, he sees no need because regulations already exist; officials just must not be negligent. If they genuinely examine cases, no person with a bad record can slip through.
He cited the example of ID card fraud in Chiang Mai, where the involved district chief was decisively removed from office and prosecuted, underscoring that no leniency is given. The free visa policy is under joint review with several agencies to find the optimal balance between generating national income and security screening, rather than allowing unrestricted entry without conditions.
Regarding the arrest of a Chinese man with a large cache of war weapons, the Prime Minister revealed he ordered the National Police Chief to extend investigations to the entire network. He emphasized that claims the arms were collected as a hobby are unacceptable.
"I banned issuing licenses, buying, and carrying firearms two to three years ago. They cannot claim it is a hobby. Imagine if Thais did this abroad—would they be allowed back? This is a serious matter that must be addressed until we are confident there is no threat to security and the public," the Prime Minister said.