Joining Adm Cherngchai was his wife, Ms Chatuporn, President of the Naval Wives Association. and senior officers of the Navy.
Present to welcome Adm Cherngchai was Vice Admiral Arpakorn Yukongkaew, Commander of the Royal Thai Navy Third Area Command, and a formal assembly of Phuket Navy personnel.
According to an official report of the visit, Adm Cherngchai praised the efforts of Navy personnel stationed along the southern Andaman coast, “which is considered to be very important in protecting and maintaining the independence and sovereignty of the nation, strengthening stability and helping to alleviate suffering for the people in the area”.
Adm Cherngchai recounted the efforts by Navy personnel in the South by helping seal the border during the COVID-19 pandemic, thus “preventing COVID-19 from being brought into the country by illegal immigrants”. He also praised their efforts in the ‘Phuket Sandbox’ scheme.
Of note, Adm Cherngchai was Commander of the Third Area Command in Phuket during the pandemic. He has also served as Deputy Director of Thai Maritime Enforcement Command Center (also referred to as THAI-MECC), a special unit established to specifically respond to illegal migration.
To that end, Adm Cherngchai yesterday also praised the efforts of the ‘Third Regional Maritime Enforcement Command Center’ (THAI-MECC 3) for its efforts in controlling the border in Ranong and people fleeing Myanmar.
Though never publicly recognised or reported by the Royal Thai Navy, Adm Cherngchai yesterday also praised local Navy personnel for “facilitating and providing humanitarian assistance to irregular migrants in the Indian Ocean.”
Adm Cherngchai also highlighted two cases in June 2021 involving the Navy in “the prevention and suppression of the illegal act of smuggling of goods and drugs entering the country by sea”.
One case resulted in more than 800 kilogrammes of drugs, including heroin and crystal meth (ice) in the area of the Thai-Malaysian sea border in Satun Province. The haul, the largest on the Andaman coast, was estimated to be worth more than B500 million.
The other case involved a raid and seizure of a tax-evasion smuggling operation in Trang province that resulted in a fine of more than B600 million.
Adm Cherngchai, who has held the post of Commander-in-Chief for one year, continued his praise, and urged Navy personnel “to perform their duties as in the past. with honesty perseverance Taking advantage of the Navy as the base To jointly strengthen and develop the Navy to be prosperous and stable forever”.
Although Adm Cherngchai is to retire from his service with the Royal Thai Navy, he currently remains listed as an active serving member of the Thai Senate.