Kongcheep said Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan has ordered the Royal Thai Police to eliminate child prostitution in all areas of the country and to work with the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security to provide protection and compensation to victims as well as prosecute all human traffickers.

Prawit also told security officials to retain strict law enforcement against mafia networks and persons involved in the sabotage of national stability, the sale of narcotics, illegal weapons, assassin rings, debt collection using force, human trafficking groups, and smuggling prostitution, Kongcheep said.

The spokesman said security officials have since October 2016 seized some 20,000 guns and some 10 million drug pills from major narcotics network, and that authorities are tracing the trail of money to the money-laundering and international criminal networks.

He said the government is working to ensure public safety based on the principles of freedom, fairness, and equality under the law, and encourages public participation in the government’s operations to solve social issues.

The government also asked public to help tip-off authorities about suspicious activities.