POLICE RECRUIT INFORMERS TO STEM THE TIDE IN NORTHEAST

The army has recruited about 5,000 informers in 250 villages to help in the
battle against drugs in the Northeast, the newest route for smugglers.

Around 1,000 of them are former addicts or dealers, Gen Boonrawd Somthat,
secretary-general of the Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc), said
yesterday.

"This project has reduced the amount of methamphetamines on the local
market by up to 750,000 pills in the last year,worth 450 million baht," Gen
Boonrawd said.

The project was successful because the volunteers brought social pressure
to bear on traffickers and users.

The campaign would be expanded to include all 5,000 villages in the
Northeast in the next 18 months.

Unfortunately the same programme could not be so effectively applied in the
North, because it was so close to drugs production bases in neighbouring
countries and geographical and environmental conditions were different.

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra will lead a ceremony at Suranaree Camp in
Nakhon Ratchasima on Saturday when local people will swear not to take drugs.

Privy Council president Prem Tinsulanonda will also take part.