The Crime Suppression Division (CSD) of the Royal Thai Police has set up a new SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics) unit to replace its predecessor, the police commando unit, which was moved under the Ratchawallop Royal Guards Command.
The new SWAT unit, officially named the Hanuman unit, after the monkey god Hanuman, the faithful knight and servant of god Rama in the Indian epic Ramayana, is currently staffed by 40 officers under the command of Pol Col Wichak Darom, superintendent of the support unit of the CSD.
CSD commander Pol Maj-Gen Chikrapob Phuridet said that the new unit, well equipped with light and heavy weaponry, will support other CSD units to handle special or unique situations. Its call signs are Hanuman or Narai 1.
Colonel Wichak said that members of the unit had gone through anti-terrorism, SWAT advanced and other courses and came third place in the SWAT Challenge 2019 competition, held in Nakhon Ratchasima with other special units from nine other provincial police bureau.
Some of the unit members will be sent to the United States for a special training course with the FBI.
The Hanuman unit has already made a name for itself for its performance in the crackdown of notorious criminal gangs, such as the Takeda and Na Loui Tatip organizations.
