STRENGTHENING THAILAND’S CAPABILITY TO COMBAT TOC UNDER THE AEC

Chapter 4

STRENGTHENING THAILAND’S CAPABILITY TO COMBAT TOC UNDER THE AEC

Interviews conducted with a large sample of practitioners allowed an assessment of how they see their agency’s preparation efforts; if preparation and the available resources are enough; what else is needed; how important it is to prepare; and perceptions about whether ASEAN member states have prepared for the criminal ramifications of regional integration.

All sixteen304 government agencies represented by interviewed stakeholders have undertaken some preparations for regional integration, focused mainly on building their technical capacity to combat TOC, but also on improving cooperation both at the interagency and at the international level, and on promoting law reform and policymaking. Foreign language training and the use of technologies were key components of such preparations. However, stakeholders were equally divided between those who felt current preparations were enough, and those that think more needs to be done. In order to fill these preparation gaps, the ‘4M’ are needed: money, manpower, material and management.

304 The government agencies represented by the interviewed stakeholders were Office of the Attor-ney General, Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Im-migration Department, Customs Department, Royal Thai Police, National Security Council, Depart-ment of Special Investigation, Natural Resources and Environmental Crimes Suppression Division, National Intelligence Agency, Office of the Narcotics Control Board, Anti-Money Laundering Office, Courts of Justice, Intellectual Property and International Trade Court, Pollution Control Department, and Department of National Parks Wildlife and Plant Conservation.