Deputy PM tells Southern security forces to focus on influential people, narcotics

BANGKOK, Aug 20 (TNA) -- Deputy Prime Minister/Defence Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwon who is in charge of security affairs inspected the southern provinces to give support to civil servants where he stressed the need to tackle local influential people and narcotics, according to the Ministry of Defense spokesman. Lt Gen Kongcheep Tantawanich, the spokesman for the Ministry of Defense said that Gen Prawit led a delegation to visit Chumphon and gave moral support to officials who were working in the upper southern provinces. He said the crime syndicates have taken advantage of the strategic location of the provinces which provides a convenient base to for illegal arms trading, narcotics, contraband and human trafficking operations as well as illegal fishing and illegal entry. "Gen. Prawit wanted all security personnel and officials to pay attention to the opinions and complaints from local residents so that a united effort to tackle the problems can be done to ensure the overall security and safety of the general public," said the spokesman. Lt Gen Kongcheep said that Gen Prawit wanted particular attention to pay attention on narcotics, arms trafficking, influencial figures who damaged the natural resources. (TNA)