Anutin declared that the government has given the green light to all agencies to eradicate money laundering, hidden stock holdings, and scammers following police issuing arrest warrants for Ben Smith and associates.
At 3:00 p.m. on 28 Oct 2026 GMT+7 at the Royal Thai Police Headquarters, Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul spoke regarding the issuance of arrest warrants for Ben Smith and five others in a case involving transnational money laundering, conspiracy, and violations related to stockholding in the Thai market without complying with the law. He said he believed this matter was neither surprising nor new.
The Prime Minister added that he was pleased and had spoken with Police General Samran Nualma, the National Police Chief, about conducting investigations transparently. The Chief stated, 'Conceal the names, focus on behavior,' indicating that the policy and approach he assigned to related investigative agencies—such as the Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO), Department of Special Investigation (DSI), Office of the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC), Royal Thai Police (RTP), and Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB)—were being implemented. He expressed relief that there was no collusion, emphasizing that regardless of whether someone is Mr., Mrs., or Madam, if they break the law, they must be prosecuted accordingly.
The Prime Minister further stated that he hoped the media would help inform the public to alleviate concerns, stressing that no assistance is being given to offenders, especially during his leadership as head of government.
"These issues hinder government operations. Whoever breaks the law, launders money, or commits scams obstructs the country's progress. The government’s duty is to promote the country’s prosperity, but these criminals hold it back, preventing progress. Therefore, we have no choice but to eradicate them completely. All agencies will receive full support and the government's green light to act decisively, restore order, and prosecute all offenders to the fullest extent," the Prime Minister said.
When asked if additional suspects remain in the country, the Prime Minister said that the investigation continues to expand; just yesterday, another suspect was added. He declined to provide further details, stating that as Prime Minister and head of government, he has already issued a policy of zero tolerance toward illegal acts. How each agency carries out investigations and prosecutions is the responsibility of the heads of those agencies.