Get to know "Big Rarn" Police General Samran Nuanma, the incoming 16th Police Commissioner, a police officer from Phetchaburi who grew up in investigation and detective roles.
Get to know "Big Rarn" Police General Samran Nuanma The incoming 16th Police Commissioner is a Phetchaburi-born officer who developed from investigation, detective, and tactical work to senior management, boasting an impressive profile in education and national-level crime suppression.
On 22 Jul 2026, the Royal Thai Police Commission meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, unanimously approved 12:0 his appointment as the new Police Commissioner, succeeding "Big Tai" Police General Kittirat Phanphet, who will retire on 30 Sep 2026.
Police General Samran Nuanma Also known as 'Big Rarn' Currently 53 years old, born on 14 June 1973 in Bang Kao Subdistrict, Cha-Am District, Phetchaburi Province, he entered the uniformed service by attending Armed Forces Preparatory School Class 34 and Police Cadet Academy Class 50.
Beyond his expertise in tactical police work, 'Big Rarn' values ongoing education, having earned master's and doctoral degrees from Ramkhamhaeng University, and is currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in law at Thammasat University to broaden his legal knowledge.
Currently, besides serving as Deputy Commissioner-General of the Royal Thai Police, he is trusted as an expert member of the Special Case Committee and serves on the central committee of the Football Association of Thailand under Royal Patronage.
Police General Samran’s official service began in 1997 as Deputy Investigation Inspector at Phra Khanong Metropolitan Police Station, marking a crucial start in addressing grassroots public issues, before steadily rising and gaining recognition in investigation and crime suppression.
With decisive and systematic work, he advanced through command ranks from Police Colonel to Police General over more than 15 years, commanding key units extensively. At just 53, with retirement set for 2033, he is the candidate with the longest remaining service among contenders for Police Commissioner.
In crime suppression, 'Big Rarn' has proven records in high-profile and national security cases, including:
Resolving the 'Korat Shooting' at Terminal 21: While commanding the Special Operations Division (Arintharat 26), he led special forces to cordon off the area, plan tactical operations, and regain control to end the national tragedy by neutralizing the perpetrator and safely rescuing civilians.
The 'Air Hostess Drug Trafficking' case: He supervised the investigation of a case where airline crew smuggled drugs out of the country to Australia, uncovering the network structure, issuing arrest warrants for financiers and accomplices, effectively dismantling the transnational drug ring.
Operation 'Dragon Scale Removal': Cracking down on the gray Chinese capital network 'Father Thip,' which used Thai men to certify children on birth certificates to fraudulently acquire Thai nationality; the case is being escalated as a transnational criminal organization.
Operation 'Closing the Shadow Power': Sweeping corruption rings involving civil registration fraud and G-Code identity abuses, prosecuting implicated former government officials decisively without exception.
As Metropolitan Police Commander, Police General Samran led the Metropolitan Police Bureau to be the only Royal Thai Police unit to earn an "Excellent Pass" rating in the Integrity and Transparency Assessment (ITA) among government agencies.
He also prioritized welfare and safety for frontline officers by securing a budget to purchase 14,000 bulletproof vests and introducing modern technologies like thermal detection drones to enhance suppression efficiency.
With comprehensive expertise in tactics, national-level crime suppression achievements, transparent management experience, and long remaining service, Police General Samran Nuanma has become a leading candidate and was chosen as the 16th Police Commissioner.
