Thailand Prosecutor Office plans new investigative unit

The Office of the Attorney General in Thailand is moving to establish a dedicated investigative unit to enhance its ability to combat organized and transnational crime. This initiative follows a policy directive from Attorney General Kowit Sripiroj, who described the current state of Thai prosecutors as “giants without clubs,” noting that while they possess legal authority, they lack the field personnel necessary for active investigation, searches, and arrests.

Wacharin Phanurat, Director-General of the Office of Investigation, is proposing an initial team of 20 personnel. He noted that the lack of independent field units has previously hindered progress in major cases, such as a significant pangolin scale smuggling investigation involving over 500 kilograms of contraband. In that instance, the investigation stalled for two years under other jurisdictions before the Office of Investigation took over.

To model this new capability, officials are looking toward international frameworks, such as the FBI in the United States or the investigative structures used by prosecutors in Japan and South Korea, to provide the necessary operational support for field enforcement.