Arrest in Thailand
Thai police have captured an Australian man, Robert Wainwright, who is sought after in Australia for drug and weapon offenses. He was found living in Phuket on a student visa with his Australian girlfriend. Pol Lt Gen Pakphumpipat Sajjapan, Immigration Bureau (IB) commissioner, announced the arrest during a press briefing and mentioned that Wainwright’s girlfriend had been handling his affairs to avoid drawing attention.
Wainwright and his girlfriend were apprehended while leaving a villa in Phuket on August 10. According to Pol Lt Gen Pakphumpipat, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) had informed the Royal Thai Police of Wainwright’s presence in the country, as he is suspected of being part of a drug-trafficking organization targeted by the AFP.
US and Thailand Discuss Security and Law Enforcement
In a related development, on Wednesday, Provincial Police Region 5 and US Ambassador to Thailand Robert F Godec visited the Mekong River in Chiang Rai, across from the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone (SEZ). The ambassador, US Consul General in Chiang Mai Lisa A Buzenas, and Pol Lt Gen Piya Tawichai surveyed the Mekong River border areas between Thailand and Laos in Chiang Saen district.
The US officials and local police discussed strategies for preventing and combating transborder cybercrimes, drug smuggling, and human trafficking. Ambassador Godec emphasized the long-standing cooperation between Thailand and the US in the realm of security and law enforcement, including numerous training programs.
Moreover, Godec stated that the US is prepared to collaborate with Thailand to address challenges in the Mekong River area, specifically focusing on transnational crimes such as human trafficking, money laundering, and call center scams.
