Anutin Charnvirakul Addresses Allegations of Politician’s Involvement in Drug Trafficking

Bangkok: Anutin Charnvirakul, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, addressed recent allegations involving a politician linked to drug trafficking. He clarified that the issue, involving a politician referred to as "T.", falls under the jurisdiction of civil servants and is unrelated to his party, Bhumjaithai, or the government. The incident reportedly took place during the dissolution of parliament, and Anutin dismissed claims of political sabotage, maintaining a policy of confidentiality for those implicated. According to Thai News Agency, Anutin was questioned about a revelation on the CSI LA Facebook page concerning "T.", a deputy leader of a notable southern party, alleged to be part of a drug trafficking network. Anutin mentioned he learned of the matter through news reports and not through official police communication, stressing that "T." is not a reference to himself, as he is sometimes called "Tin" in Thai. When asked about the potential for political manipulation surrounding the incident, Anut in reaffirmed that neither the Bhumjaithai Party nor his governmental role was involved. He highlighted the limited powers of the government due to the parliamentary dissolution, noting that civil servants are executing their duties diligently. During his campaign efforts, Anutin avoids formal engagements with provincial officials to prevent any negative implications, focusing instead on national administration while leaving government operations to civil servants. In response to inquiries about the Minister of Finance reporting on politicians involved in scams and drug trafficking, Anutin reiterated his stance of anonymity. He assured that any individual found guilty would face full accountability, without bias or exception. He instructed authorities to enforce the law rigorously and emphasized his consistent adherence to this policy, refraining from seeking specific information on those implicated.