Method to the Madness: When Terrorism Exploits Human Trafficking, Drug Smuggling, and Weapons Smuggling for Financial Purposes

Money Laundering (ML) and Terrorism Financing (TF) activities are linked to the Thai insurgency situation. The funds from various illicit financing activities are transported across Thailand's four land borders and through its airports and seaports. Operationally, the Thai government authorities continue to utilize the Anti-Money Laundering-Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML-CFT) regime to focus on non-conviction-based asset seizure and forfeiture and criminal enforcement. TF and proliferation financing investigations have to be done. Thailand has applied the recommendation of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), by amending the Anti-Money Laundering Act B.E. 2542 and the Counter-Terrorism and Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction Financing Act B.E. 2559 in order for both laws to be consistent with existing international standards. Thailand has also implemented the 2017-2021 National Counter-Terrorism Strategy as enhanced response to terrorist attacks and with the aim of preventing further attacks in the future.