Problems and Obstacles in Addressing Mid-Level Drug Traffickers in the Enforcement of Drug and Anti-Money Laundering Laws: A District-Level Case Study in Kanchanaburi Province

Abstract

This study, entitled "Challenges and Obstacles in Addressing Mid-Level Drug Traffickers under Drug and Anti-Money Laundering Laws: A District-Level Case Study in Kanchanaburi Province, Thailand," investigates the roles and behavioral patterns of mid-level drug traffickers, as well as the legal and institutional barriers to effective law enforcement at the local level. Employing a qualitative research methodology, data were collected through in-depth interviews with district-level government officials and community leaders, complemented by document analysis and field-based observations. The findings indicate that mid-level traffickers serve as critical intermediaries within drug distribution networks, facilitating the movement of narcotics between production sources and lower-level dealers. These actors exhibit substantial capacity to launder proceeds through legitimate-looking businesses such as construction contracting, agricultural enterprises, and land acquisition schemes. Their operations are often shielded by entrenched relationships with local politicians, state officials, and informal patronage systems, which obstruct arrest and asset forfeiture processes. Key enforcement challenges include statutory ambiguities, the lack of integrated data-sharing systems among relevant agencies, procedural delays in prosecuting money laundering offenses, and undue political or personal influences undermining investigative and prosecutorial efficacy. Additionally, regulatory mechanisms for monitoring high-risk local businesses remain underdeveloped, and there is a marked absence of grassroots engagement in anti-drug initiatives. Based on these findings, the study proposes several policy interventions: enhancing inter-agency data integration; revising anti-money laundering legislation to reflect local socio-economic realities; establishing independent, multidisciplinary task forces; strengthening oversight of vulnerable business sectors; and fostering participatory mechanisms to engage communities in drug suppression efforts. These recommendations aim to reinforce institutional capacities and promote sustainable strategies for disrupting mid-level drug trafficking operations.