ASEAN Nations Partner With INTERPOL To Combat Cross-Border Chemical Smuggling Under Operation CHASE

BANGKOK, Nov 3  – Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines have joined forces with INTERPOL in a major regional initiative, designated Operation Chemical Anti-Smuggling Enforcement (CHASE), to curb cross-border chemical smuggling and prevent the illicit diversion of chemicals used in producing narcotics and explosives.

Royal Thai Police (RTP) Deputy Spokesperson Police Col Songake Patcharawit confirmed in a statement on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, that the multi-phase operation aimed to fortify border security, improve illicit chemical detection capabilities, and streamline intelligence coordination among regional law enforcement agencies.

Operation CHASE progressed across four distinct operational phases:

1. Scene Management Training: Launched in Bangkok, Thailand, in December 2025.
2. Investigation Techniques Training: Focused on chemical anti-smuggling investigative methods in Malaysia in May 2026.
3. Operational Coordination Meeting: Convened key law enforcement leadership in Bangkok in July 2026.
4. Coordinated Field Enforcement: Executed active joint enforcement operations across the four participating Southeast Asian nations.

In Thailand, field enforcement activities were centered at the Sadao Customs and Immigration Checkpoints in Songkhla along the Thai-Malaysian border from October 27 to 29, 2026.

The Thai operational contingent mobilized specialized units from the Royal Thai Police—including the Metropolitan Police Bureau, Border Patrol Police Bureau, Immigration Bureau, Office of Police Forensic Science, and Foreign Affairs Division—alongside officers from the Thai Customs Department.

INTERPOL technical specialists provided real-time guidance during joint vehicle inspections, information sharing, and tactical monitoring to identify suspicious chemical shipments and mitigate cross-border threats.

Songake emphasized that robust monitoring and enhanced detection protocols remain essential to prevent dual-use precursor chemicals from being diverted into illegal drug processing or explosive manufacturing.

Operation Timeline, Participating Agencies, and Field Actions

Key operational milestones, multi-agency participants, and border enforcement details include:

• Participating ASEAN Countries: Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines, supported by INTERPOL technical teams.
• 4-Phase Operational Schedule: Scene management training (Bangkok, Dec 2025), investigation training (Malaysia, May 2026), coordination meeting (Bangkok, July 2026), and joint enforcement (Oct 2026).
• Thailand Field Focus: October 27–29, 2026 enforcement at Sadao Customs & Immigration Checkpoints in Songkhla.
• Key Thai Units Involved: Metropolitan Police, Border Patrol Police, Immigration Bureau, Office of Police Forensic Science, Foreign Affairs Division, and Thai Customs Department.
• Primary Strategic Objective: Intercepting precursor chemical diversions used for illegal manufacturing of narcotics and explosives.

–NMT