Two Deputy Ministers of the Interior Ministry convened a special task force meeting to enforce strict social order nationwide, ordering provincial governors to scan for illegal hotels, gray capital, and nominees with no exceptions.
At 14:00, Mr. Pol.Pee Suwanchavee, along with Mr. Jeset Thaiset, Deputy Ministers of the Interior, co-chaired the second 2026 meeting of the Ministry's special task force committee on social order management. Senior officials attended, including Mr. Chaiwat Chuenkosum, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Interior, Mr. Wilur Sithiwong, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Provincial Administration, together with provincial governors, district chiefs, and heads of government agencies nationwide, participating via online system.
Mr. Pol.Pee expressed gratitude to all officers for their work over the past month and emphasized the need for in-depth data before actual operations, especially regarding hotels and accommodations without licenses that do not participate in guest data reporting systems. These pose risks as hideouts for scam gangs, gray capital, and drug trafficking networks. He cited a recent case in Huai Khwang district where a hotel operated without a license for nine years using nominees as fronts.
Consequently, he ordered provincial governors and relevant agencies to urgently scan and inspect all establishments and hotels in their areas, clearly distinguishing licensed from unlicensed ones, and report back to the Department of Provincial Administration within seven days. Areas with issues should apply the "Phuket model". Any operators unwilling to comply must be strictly prohibited from operating. Negligence could implicate local officials for dereliction of duty under Section 157.
Additionally, he stressed the problems related to drugs and cannabis, which Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul prioritizes. He stated that cannabis shops must be for "medical use only." Any shops found without licenses, with expired licenses, no resident doctor or pharmacist, or selling to those without medical certification must be immediately closed. He also ordered coordination with relevant agencies to investigate legal entities acting as "nominees" holding land retroactively over 30 days to prevent share transfers to evade prosecution, extending scrutiny to car rental businesses, tour companies, accounting firms, and lawyers harboring foreign nominees.
Mr. Jeset revealed government measures to control firearms, saying efforts are underway to close legal loopholes by inspecting and tightening issuance of firearm purchase licenses (Por 3) and possession and use licenses (Por 4) to address excessive or unrealistic holdings, aiming to prevent firearms being used in crimes.
Meanwhile, the Interior Ministry is collaborating with the Ministry of Justice to establish provincial and district-level committees to pass names of sexual offenders to village chiefs for behavior monitoring at the village level to prevent repeat offenses. They have strictly mandated that individuals with sexual offenses involving children are prohibited from working as janitors or entering school premises under any circumstances.
"All agencies are requested to submit operational reports within 7 days and strictly maintain government secrecy or 'W.5' operation confidentiality. Any information leaks causing offenders to become alert will be considered harmful to the nation. Officials should be confident and not fear any influence, as management will fully support and lead everyone," Mr. Pol.Pee concluded.
Mr. Assisit Sampantharat, Permanent Secretary of the Interior Ministry, assigned Mr. Phasakorn Boonylaksam, Deputy Permanent Secretary, to chair a security integration committee meeting with related agencies. The meeting considered ways to enhance security oversight of service venues nationwide, shifting zoning perspectives to "prohibit certain locations" near schools, temples, or communities, enforce strict building safety standards, and inspect firearm licenses. They also ordered adjustments to intelligence plans to emphasize proactive work to prevent incidents, monitor border security, drug control, and instructed the Department of Disaster Prevention to watch for monsoon hazards and expedite aid to flood victims in 14 provinces to sustainably protect lives and property.