28/07/2026
Royal Thai Police Join 44th ASEANAPOL Conference in Manila Under the Theme “United in Vision: Securing People and Strengthening Collaboration,” Driving Forward Anti-Scam Initiatives and Welcoming Timor-Leste as New Member
(July 28, 2026) The Royal Thai Police has disclosed the outcomes of its participation in the 44th ASEANAPOL Conference, held from July 22–26 2026, in Manila, Republic of the Philippines. Guided by the theme “United in Vision: Securing People and Strengthening Collaboration,” the Thai delegation was led by Pol. Lt. Gen. Itthipol Itthisarnronnachai, Assistant Commissioner General of the Royal Thai Police and Head of Delegation. Joining him as Deputy Head of Delegation was Pol. Lt. Gen. Voravat Amornvivat, Special Expert of Royal Thai Police and Acting Deputy Commissioner of the Special Branch Bureau, along with Pol. Maj. Gen. Jaturapat Bhiromkaew, Commander of the Foreign Affairs Division, delegates from the RTP, and Pol. Col. Kongkritsada Kittithiraphong, Executive Director of the ASEANAPOL Secretariat, all uniting to propel regional security cooperation forward.
Throughout the conference, the RTP delegation actively engaged in a series of key meeting. The itinerary commenced with the Executive Committee meeting to deliberate on core agenda items and elect the Director for Police Services of the ASEANAPOL Secretariat, prior to submitting the outcomes for endorsement at the Head of Delegation Discussion Forum. Furthermore, during the First Plenary Session, the Head of the Thai Delegation presented a comprehensive report detailing the achievements of the 43rd ASEANAPOL Conference hosted by Thailand under the theme “Collaboration in Action: Crushing Scam, Disrupting Fraud, and Protecting People.” This highlighted Thailand’s pioneering role in driving regional efforts against tech-driven crimes and online scams. The meeting report was officially handed over to the Chief of the Philippine National Police to ensure seamless continuity of these joint commitments. The Thai delegation was also honored with a courtesy call on representative of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. , Mr. Ralph Recto Executive Secretary of the Office of the President of the Philippines to explore further avenues for bilateral and multilateral law enforcement cooperation.
This year’s conference reaffirmed the sustained commitment among ASEAN police forces, placing strong emphasis on countering 8 core crime categories: illicit drug trafficking, terrorism, arms smuggling, human trafficking, wildlife trafficking, financial crime, cybercrime, and maritime crime. In parallel, working group sessions formulated actionable frameworks to tackle the pressing issue affecting nations across the region: online scams and call-center syndicates. This represents a direct continuation of the cooperative vision initiated and pushed forward by the Royal Thai Police in the previous conference, culminating in the adoption and official signing of the ASEANAPOL Joint Communiqué during the closing ceremony.
Beyond the main plenary sessions, the Thai delegation held bilateral meetings with representatives from Japan, Hong Kong, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand to fortify law enforcement ties and expand cross-border crime-fighting networks. On the expansion front, the conference marked a historic milestone by unanimously endorsing the Timor-Leste National Police as the 11th member state of ASEANAPOL. Additionally, the Ministry of Interior of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) was accepted as a new Dialogue Partner, while the Republic of Indonesia was designated to host the 45th ASEANAPOL Conference in 2027.
The achievements of this conference translate directly into tangible benefits for the public. The ongoing commitment and united resolve of ASEAN member states building upon the firm measures pioneered by Thailand since the 43rd conference will significantly enhance real-time information sharing and international joint operations. By disrupting the networks of online scam syndicates and tackling all forms of transnational crime at their root, this collective effort aims to safeguard lives, protect public assets, and reflect the unwavering dedication of the Royal Thai Police on the global stage toward building a safe and resilient region.
