Transnational Crime Data Center Officially Opens in Pattaya
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From left: Police Major General Sukda Chuenpakdee, Commander of Immigration Division 3, Pattaya Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome, Police General Wuthi Puawes, Security Advisor and Special Affairs Department of the Royal Thai Police, Mr. Supia Jungklengklai, Chief Judge at Pattaya City Court and Immigration Police Bureau Commissioner Lt. General Wuthi Liptapanlop as they turn the globe at the opening of the Transnational Crime Data Center (TNCDC) to reflect how transnational criminals around the world will soon be captured with the new system available at the TNCDC.
The days of fugitives from justice hiding out in Thailand, and particularly Pattaya and the Eastern Region are now numbered with the recent opening of the second Transnational Crime Data Center (TNCDC) in Thailand.
Chonburi Immigration Chief Police Colonel Attiwit Kamonrat told the Pattaya Times there are believed to be at least 3,000 foreign fugitives hiding in Thailand involvong crimes committed internationally and another 1,000 fugatives found guilty by Thai courts.
The Chonburi Immigration Bureau serves as the headquarters for the Pattaya, Sri Racha and Kho Sri Chang offices and now also houses this special investigations division.
The TNCDC is located on the second floor of the Chonburi Immigration Bureau headquarters on Jomtien Beach Road Soi 5 in Pattaya.
A new computer system that combines data from agencies looking for fugitives with Immigration entry and Thailand hotel registrations was installed in the new facility in May.
The data used by the officers at the TNCDC to identify and apprehend fugitives includes photos, descriptions, known associates and habits of alleged criminals wanted by various agencies including the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Interpol, Bangkok-based embassies and Thai courts.
"The office has gathered more than 4,000 arrest warrants domestically and internationally. With the arrest warrants stored at the TNCDC, it will be much more convenient for police officers to prevent and suppress crime," said Police Major General Sukda Chuenpakdee, Commander of Immigration Division 3.
Police Major General Sukda added, “The Chonburi Immigration Bureau is under the supervision of Immigration Division 3, Immigration Bureau of Thailand and the Royal Thai Police. The main function is to provide services to foreign tourists or foreign business people. There are thousands of foreigners entering Thailand each year and some of these are transnational criminals. They often escape from their country in hopes to live in disguise in Thailand.”
The TNCDC is established by Chonburi Immigration Police Superintendent Colonel Athiwit Kamolrat who under the command of National Immigration Police Bureau Commissioner Lt. General Wuthi Liptapanlop.
The goals of suppressing crime, catching transnational criminals and catching illegal South East Asian foreign workers have already started to be met by a flurry of high-profile, recent arrests and raids over the last few months when the Pattaya Times broke the story of the "Police Crackdown" to come.
The TNCDC is operated using high standard computer system called the ‘Polis’ system. The Polis system is the system used for finding data from the Royal Thai Police database. The system can also be linked to various international and interdepartmental units to find information concerning civil registration, driver license information and investigative cases.
There is also the ‘IM’ system. This system is originally used at the Pattaya Immigration for data collection, visa extension procedures, 24-hour accommodation reporting and arrest warrants.
The other system is the ‘IMM’ System which is used for checking and monitoring prohibited (blacklisted) persons, arrival and departure dates of a person and has a passport checking system that is link around the world.
Pattaya Times was the first to interview Police General Wuthi Puawes, the head of the Thailand immigration police and the Security Advisor, Special Affairs Department of the Royal Thai Police. Pol. Gen. Wuthi said, “We chose Pattaya as the second destination to expand the Transnational Crime Data Center (TNCDC) for many reasons. Pattaya is a desired location by young and retired foreigners from all over the world. The Pattaya Police team has done an incredible job at arresting other transitional criminals in the past and the Chonburi Immigration Bureau is one of the busiest immigration bureaus in the country.”
“After Pattaya we will also open other TNCDC’s in other provinces such as Phuket, Chiang Mai and Samui,” he added.
Pol. Gen. Wuthi continued, “Our main goal is to create security and safety for our country, our people and the tourists. We want to improve Thailand’s reputation as well so that our tourism will improve along with our economy.”
Pol. Gen. Wuthi added with a smile, “I am very proud to have seen the Pattaya Immigration developed to become the Chonburi Immigration Bureau and now with the Transnational Crime Data Center (TNCDC). I am also very excited to see what is in stored in the future as well. I can guarantee that the Transnational Crime Data Center will be put to good use and transnational criminals residing in Thailand will be captured.”
Police Major General Sukda Chuenpakdee, Commander of Immigration talks to a Pattaya Times reporter and Drew Noyes of PAPPA Co., Ltd. Law Office about the intricacies of the new Transational Crime Data Center
