The Supreme Court is looking to set up an appeal court dedicated to narcotics cases to quicken the legal process of freezing drug networks' assets.
The move came after Deputy Prime Minister Somsak Thepsutin visited the Supreme Court to congratulate Anocha Chevitsophon on assuming her role as Supreme Court president yesterday.
On this occasion, the Deputy Prime Minister sought advice from Ms Anocha about guidelines to deal with drug-related cases, which make up more than 85% of current incarcerations.
Mr Somsak said the government wanted to reduce that number by focusing on immediately seizing the assets of drug networks once the suspects are arrested.
If cases are distinguished by category, it will facilitate authorities' ability to quicken the freezing process of drug networks' assets.
The new illicit drug law also underscores the freezing of assets, he said, adding that frozen assets are one of the proven methods to eradicate drug networks.
Last year, the authorities froze more than 30 billion baht worth of assets during the time when he was the justice minister compared to 900 million baht in seizures a year before he was in the position.
To effectively tackle drug-related cases, Ms Anocha said the court should have a specialist illicit drug section comprised of judges who have expertise in the area, so judges can seek advice from each other where necessary.
Ms Anocha also backed Mr Somsak's idea to set up an appeal court that would deal exclusively with illicit drug cases, although it would also need support from the government, she said.
Meanwhile, Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul attended a press briefing at Rong Kwang Police Station in Phrae following the seizure of 7.6 million methamphetamine pills worth more than 300 million baht on Monday.
The seizure came after local villagers spotted and alerted authorities about a suspicious lorry parked near Ban Don Chum in tambon Mae Yang Rong in Rong Kwang district.
Police found that the lorry was displaying a fake licence plate and discovered 38 sacks, each containing around 200,000 meth pills or 7.6 million meth pills in total.
Authorities speculated the drugs had been sent from the North to the central region, while the driver might have abandoned the lorry and fled.
"The good coordination between locals and the authorities was vital to the success of the seizure," he said.
"This is a vital moment that reflects our determination in dealing with illicit drugs and influential figures," Mr Anutin added.
