Anutin Charnvirakul led Bhumjaithai Party MPs to submit two drug law amendment bills, pushing to increase penalties and extend detention time to 7 days, promoting the matter as an urgent national issue to solve the country's problems immediately. "Anutin" led Bhumjaithai MPs to submit two drug law amendment bills aimed at increasing penalties and extending detention time to 7 days, pushing the issue as an urgent national solution.
21 Oct 2026 GMT+7 Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul, as the leader of the Bhumjaithai Party, along with members of parliament from the Bhumjaithai Party, submitted two drug law amendment bills to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, requesting that they be listed as urgent matters for parliamentary consideration. The aim is to enhance the effectiveness of officials' work and strengthen legal measures to be more stringent and precise.
Sophon Sarum, Speaker of the House of Representatives, said this bill submission represents a new dimension of collaboration between the legislative and executive branches. It began with workshops gathering suggestions and real-world operational problems from government agencies, field officers, local authorities, and the public. The Bhumjaithai Party's legal team then used these conclusions to draft laws addressing legal issues and loopholes in line with the current drug crisis.
At one point, Anutin explained the key elements of the two drug law amendment bills. The draft bill (number unspecified) presumes that possession of drugs is for distribution, aiming to intensify charge filings. It also increases penalties for those who use or encourage youth to commit drug offenses or exploit legal loopholes to evade punishment. The bill clarifies the rehabilitation system, establishing treatment procedures aligned with actual practice and allowing caregivers or families to voluntarily bring suspected individuals into treatment instead.
Anutin further said the bill expands the powers of the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) officials to extract data from central databases for prosecution purposes and to order suspension or deletion of computer data that induces or encourages drug use. It also enhances investigative powers, allowing police officers from the Narcotics Suppression Bureau to request court approval to access information through any channel or format for investigation and case expansion. Moreover, it extends the detention period for drug suspects by officials from a maximum of 3 days to up to 7 days to allow sufficient time for evidence collection and effective case development.
Anutin also revealed that the current drug situation is severe, with expanded forces and equipment support, such as approval of additional X-Ray vehicles for the Royal Thai Police to crackdown along borders and high-risk areas. This legal amendment is therefore crucial for protecting the lives of both officials and the public. He expects cooperation from all parliament members to push for swift implementation into law.
