New Thai National Police Chief Samran Nueamma Takes Office

General Samran Nueamma, 53, has been appointed Thailand's 16th National Police Commissioner, following his expected selection as the leading candidate to head the Royal Thai Police. Born June 14, 1973, he will retire at the mandatory age in 2576 (2033).

Nueamma completed his secondary education at Phraomanusorn School in Phetchaburi province and attended the 34th Military Preparatory School and 50th Police Cadet Academy. He further earned master's and doctoral degrees from Ramkhamhaeng University and studied law at Thammasat University.

His police career grew from crime prevention and suppression work, beginning as an investigative deputy at Phra Khanong Police Station in 1997 before moving into the Special Operations Unit (191) and serving as commander of Don Mueang Police Station and the Special Operations Division command. In 2018, he was promoted to command the Special Operations and Investigations Division, then became Bangkok Metropolitan Police Commissioner in 2021, overseeing the entire capital's security.

Nueamma gained widespread recognition for leading the "Arin Rach 26" unit that resolved Thailand's deadliest mass shooting at Terminal 21 mall in Nakhon Ratchasima, where a rogue soldier killed 31 people and wounded 58 others. His other major achievements include dismantling major criminal networks, including the "Tam Khao Chi" organized crime gang with over 1.2 billion baht in circulation, asset seizures from the "Min Min U" Chinese capital network worth 1.5 billion baht, and intercepting over 4 million methamphetamine tablets destined for the "Uan Siang Tung" gang.

On security matters, Nueamma launched Operation "Scaled Dragon" to dismantle the "Pho Thip" network involved in illegal birth registrations used to grant Thai nationality to children of gray-zone Chinese capital groups. His combined record in both investigative and operational work earned him promotion to Thailand's top police post.