They are also authorised to search places, seize assets, suspend financial transactions and ban suspects from travelling.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha issued an order extending their authority under Section 44 of the interim constitution late last night (Mar 29), in his capacity as the chief of the National Council for Peace and Order .
All officers from the three armed services with the rank of sub-lieutenant and higher become crime suppression officers and the lower ranks are their assistants.
They are also authorised officers under the Criminal Code and the Criminal Procedures Code, and their actions are not covered by laws relating to the Administrative Court and Administrative Court Procedure.
They are authorised to take action against a wide range of crimes under 27 laws - including extortion, abuse of labour, human trafficking, robbery, fraud, document forgery, defamation, debt collection, alien workers, gambling, immigration, child protection, tour guide services, forests, prostitution, excise taxation, price collusion, customs, loan sharking, entertainment venues and firearms.
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