Problems and Obstacles in Eliminating Narcotics Consumption by the Yala Police Ad Hoc Committee for Narcotics Eradication

Abstract

Drugs problem has become more severe spreading nationwide recently. Although the problem is just 7 percent found in the Southern part of Thailand but it is considered higher and, even the most serious one compared to other regions nationally as the undesirable condition is directly and effectively related to the security of the Kingdom especially groups of Islamic teenagers of three-broader provinces including Yala. This study were to investigate problems and obstacles in Eliminating Narcotics Consumption by the Yala Police Ad hoc Committee. The data were collected from participation with officials in their work, in-depth interviews, The results revealed that problems and obstacles to the work could be classified into two parts : 1) components 2) steps and methods. 1.1) Personnel was not sufficient; not locals, and had problems in communicating in the dialect. 1.2) Administrative; The chain of command was not unified; their work was not related to each other; and above all, their superiors did not see the value and importance of work 1.3) Policy; There were problems resulting partially from superiors who did not support their work. 1.4) Budget was a main problem because they did not receive budget to support their work; sometimes they did not receive justice from the higher level and part of the budget was cut and they received only partial budget. Regarding equipment, they were not supported. 1.5) News; Lack of personnel to work as sources of news, and lack of personnel who were able to work about news and to be good sources. 2.1) Investigation; The current problem of the unrest situation which was with violence was an obstacle and investigations were delayed. 2.2) Planning; Officials used their familiarity with the area and their work experience in their work. 2.3) Arrests-arrest due to the unrest situation, more complicatedrug trafficking making it more difficult to arrest large cases. 2.4) Proceeding-with the cases the practitioners problems in proceeding with the cases occurred at the court level.