The order was issued at an Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc) meeting yesterday , Isoc spokesman Banpot Pulpian said.
Gen Prayuth, who is also deputy director of Isoc, had instructed troops to work with state agencies and take harsh law enforcement action against violators, particularly networks of the masterminds behind the illegal logging, Col Banpot said.
gen Prayuth ordered troops to patrol forests nationwide after the Salawin and upstream area in Nan province were found to have been critically deforested. More than 1500 logs of teak, Pradu and Ching Chan wood were seized in a house at Lampang's Muang.