Abstract:
The objective of this research is to study the airports roles, the problems and obstacles, and the developing approaches in term of the prevention of transnational organized crime. This study base on the case of Suvanabhumi International Airport, the qualitative research method, was used for this study by analyzing both qualitative and the descriptive data namely documentary research, related laws collecting, the executives in-depth interviews of the related agencies, who is responsible for the transnational crimes used to occur at the airports, observation of the operation of airport security screening officers, and the airport users interview. From the study, it is found that the aviation industry is the main target for the transnational crimes and the terrorists. From the data analysis, a massive influx of tourists into Thailand causes such security problems as the transnational crimes have been continuing take place in the airports; for example, elephant tusks smuggling, wildlife smuggling, drugs smuggling, illegal immigration, the acts of unlawful interference, etc. The airport take an important role to prevent transnational crime, screening employees of the airport shall do their duty carefully, this is important to screen suspicious object not to be smuggled from the Kingdom. The advanced technology applied to increase security capability shall be in accordance with International Civil Aviation Organization : ICAO). In addition, the community around the airport should be encouraged for participation to create a good relationship between the communities that can protect the airport from cirminals. However, it was shown by the study that passengers of Suvarnabhumi International Airport trust and have confidence in the airport security measures because there are both national laws and international laws which are enforced for the security measures and the airside terrorism. Therefore, Airport of Thailand Public Company Limited (AOT) must establish the standard operational procedure of airport security measures and review it regularly. The security measures must be applied for all airports under AOT. The security measures may be increased for some airports depending on their risk levels.