47 Officials Immediately Removed from Position after Failed Drug Tests in Nationwide Screening of Village Chiefs and Administrators
A nationwide drug screening of village chiefs and local administrators resulted in 47 officials testing positive and being immediately removed from their positions, out of 286,553 people tested across Thailand's 878 districts.
On May 26, 2025, Interior Department Director General Naruchai Kotsasiwhilaisakul announced that on May 25, the department launched a "clean house" operation to conduct drug screening of village chiefs, sub-district headmen, assistant headmen, village health volunteers, sub-district medical officers, territorial defense volunteers, and civil servants across all 878 districts nationwide. The operation aimed to demonstrate a strong commitment to drug prevention and suppression while raising the standards of local leaders to serve as trustworthy role models for the public.
Results showed that out of 286,553 officials tested, 286,506 tested negative for drugs while 47 tested positive, representing just 0.02 percent of all those screened. The director general stated that this operation is part of implementing the government's four-pillar security policy to comprehensively address the drug problem through four measures: SEAL border operations to intercept drug smuggling, suppression of drug networks and influential figures, treatment and rehabilitation of drug users, and local-level prevention using village chiefs, headmen, and community watch mechanisms.
The Department of Interior has established clear and strict guidelines for handling cases of local officials involved with drugs or testing positive, treating such conduct as dereliction of duty and behavior unbecoming of their position. District officers must conduct investigations and take decisive legal action. The procedure includes appointing an investigation committee, filing charges, temporary suspension during laboratory confirmation, and upon confirmed positive results, district officers must report to provincial governors who will order immediate removal from office.
The director general emphasized that all local officials must uphold moral and ethical standards and serve as positive examples for society to maintain public trust. The department will take strict, transparent, and uncompromising legal and disciplinary action against any officials involved in drug-related activities or conduct that damages the integrity and credibility of their positions.
