Acting Director-General of the Department of Special Investigation attends the 18th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime and its Related Meetings (AMMTC) in Vientiane, Lao PDR

Acting Director-General of the Department of Special Investigation attends the 18th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime and its Related Meetings (AMMTC) in Vientiane, the Lao PDR

On August 28, 2024, in Vientiane, the Lao PDR, Police Major Yutthana Praedam, Acting Director-General of the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), along with executives from the Ministry of Justice, attended the 18th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime and its Related Meetings (AMMTC). The meeting was chaired by H.E. Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, the Secretary-General of ASEAN, who delivered the opening remarks. Welcoming remarks were given by H.E. General Vilay Lakhamphong, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Security of the Lao PDR. The meeting was attended by ministers and delegations from ASEAN member states, Timor-Leste, and other relevant countries.

During the meeting, Police Colonel Thawee Sodsong, Minister of Justice and head of the Thai delegation, who also serves as the Chair of the ASEAN Ministers on Transnational Crime, delivered a statement on efforts to combat transnational crime and highlighted the cooperation in arresting and extraditing criminals, notably the Indonesian government's assistance in apprehending a key suspect wanted by Thailand. The statement also addressed the complexity of current narcotic issues, the importance of utilizing forensic science in prosecution processes and uncovering the truth, and the development of a financial intelligence database to disrupt drug traffickers. Additionally, it reiterated the significance of cooperation in addressing issues such as drug trafficking, cybercrime, online fraud, and online gambling, which contribute to human trafficking. As the integration of international cooperation is crucial for effectively solving these problems, both sides agreed to strengthen cooperation and establish a working group to exchange information and assist in the apprehension of fugitives crossing borders. The Minister of Justice assigned the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) to serve as a coordinator for collaboration, monitoring, apprehension, and information sharing related to narcotics between the Royal Thai Police, the Office of the Narcotics Control Board, and the Department of Special Investigation.