Thawee had been targeted for transfer ever since the military coup on September 19 last year, following his apparent reluctance to proceed with many criminal cases against Thai Rak Thai (TRT) ministers.

A source said Thawee deliberately under-performed in handling the Picnic gas scandal case, which saw public prosecutors eventually drop charges against a TRT minister.

The source said the former police colonel put extra effort into pursuing cases against the political enemies of the TRT, including an investigation into the Democrat-controlled Bangkok Metropolitan Administra-tion, over a corruption scandal involving a number of road construction projects.

In his written approval granted yesterday for Thawee's transfer, Justice Ministry permanent secretary Charan Pakdithanakul said Thawee's role at the ONCB would give anti-narcotics operations a wider area and make them "possibly more efficient".

Thawee was once questioned directly by Charan for unauthorised phone tapping.

Thawee's transfer is in line with an ongoing effort to reduce the presently-illegal number of former police officers serving with the DSI.

The law states that no more than one third of DSI officials can come from one single agency. Currently, more than half of its staff are former police officers. Thawee's position has been filled by ONCB secretary-general Phinyo Thongchai.