Buriram: Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul has refuted claims of a staged incident at a Buriram checkpoint during his recent weekend visit. He clarified that there was no escort vehicle present and commended the police for their routine duty.

According to Thai News Agency, the controversy arose after Anutin's personal vehicle was randomly searched for firearms and drugs at a checkpoint in Ban Dan Subdistrict, Buriram Province, on August 16th. This incident, part of a field visit, has been criticized on social media, with some speculating it was staged for publicity.

Anutin dismissed these criticisms, urging the public to "think about something else." He emphasized that the police officers were simply performing their regular duties. He explained that the local police had no prior knowledge of his identity, as his trip was private and unannounced. There were no police escorts or any formal reception, reinforcing that the checkpoint operation was standard procedure.

The Prime Minister also highlighted the effectiveness of the checkpoint, noting that police officers reported regular successes in apprehending drug traffickers. He mentioned a specific incident where a motorcyclist, upon seeing the checkpoint, panicked, leading to an accident and subsequent arrest for transporting drugs.