PM Anutin Proposes Tougher Drug Laws With Dealing Presumption

Bangkok — On 21 October 2026, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and lawmakers from the Bhumjaithai Party submitted two draft bills to tighten Thailand's drug laws. The proposals include a presumption that people possessing illegal drugs intend to sell them, increased penalties for drug users, and expanded investigative powers. Anutin, who also serves as interior minister and leads Bhumjaithai, submitted the proposed amendments to the Narcotics Code and the law governing drug-related criminal proceedings to House Speaker Sophon Sarum.

Anutin said the changes aim to strengthen drug suppression, close legal loopholes, and improve access to rehabilitation. The bills would expand the powers of Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) officials, allowing them to obtain information from central databases to support prosecutions, treatment, and rehabilitation. The proposals would also authorize officials to suspend or remove online content that encourages drug use.

Under the proposed amendments to drug-case procedures, the Narcotics Suppression Bureau could seek Criminal Court approval to obtain communications and other information in any format for drug-related investigations. The draft would extend the maximum detention period for drug-related arrests from three days to seven days to allow more time for investigation and pursuit of wider criminal networks. Another provision would allow caregivers to voluntarily request treatment and rehabilitation on behalf of someone suspected of drug use.

Anutin said the government was intensifying anti-drug operations involving police, ONCB officials, local administrators, and the military. He cited a clash during an operation in Phetchaburi on the night of 20 October, saying deaths during confrontations between authorities and suspected drug traffickers were losses the government wanted to prevent. He also said he had approved four additional X-ray vehicles for the Royal Thai Police to support enforcement efforts.

"We do not want to rely on luck to avoid losses," Anutin said, arguing that comprehensive prevention and suppression measures were needed to reduce casualties and combat drug trafficking. Sophon said the drug situation had reached a crisis point, causing widespread hardship, and that the proposed legislation reflected cooperation between the executive and legislative branches. The two bills will need to proceed through the parliamentary process before any changes can become law.