Bangkok: Sirima Panyarpisit, formerly a Port Control Officer in Laem Chabang, Thailand, faced immense pressure when she and her team uncovered a large shipment of heroin hidden within a container. The discovery required meticulous inspection and documentation to support future legal proceedings and enhance port risk management.
According to EMM, Sirima, now heading the Customs Service Unit in Chiangdao Customs House, emphasizes Thailand’s strategic position in combating illicit trade. As a logistical hub in Southeast Asia, Thailand is often exploited by criminal networks for importing precursor chemicals used in synthetic drug production, which are then distributed globally. The country, along with Laos and Myanmar, forms the Golden Triangle, notorious for drug production and controlled by armed groups, complicating law enforcement efforts.
The 2024 World Drug Report highlights additional crimes linked to these traffickers, including wildlife trafficking, financial fraud, and illegal resource extraction, all of which negatively impact communities and the environment. Besides drugs, Sirima’s team frequently encounters illegal waste shipments mislabeled as recyclable materials. These shipments often contain e-waste, plastic, and municipal waste, contravening Thailand’s national laws and the Basel Convention.
Illegal waste disposal poses significant risks, often resulting in environmental damage and health hazards. Sirima’s role extends to data analysis and risk management at the Port Control Unit (PCU), where she addresses the challenge of inspecting a vast number of daily shipments with precision.
Her work demands comprehensive knowledge of Thai and international regulations concerning the environment, drugs, intellectual property, and dual-use chemicals. This expertise is crucial during her demanding shifts, which can last up to 12 hours.
Sirima’s efforts have led to significant seizures, such as the 130-tonne illegal waste capture in 2022. Her capabilities have been bolstered by training from UNODC, which has equipped her and other officers with skills and tools to target and detect suspicious shipments. The UNODC’s drug and precursor identification kits have been particularly beneficial, enabling rapid identification of illicit substances.
Sirima shares a notable success where these kits helped intercept a heroin shipment bound for Syria, demonstrating the effectiveness of her training. Despite the pressures and long hours, Sirima finds fulfillment in her work, taking pride in her contributions to combating illicit trade, even if her efforts remain unrecognized by the public.