NEW UNIT IN BATTLE TO STOP SMUGGLING OF PRECURSORS

Aspecial drug suppression centre will be set up to stop the smuggling of
precursor chemicals through 16 border provinces to methamphetamine
factories in Burma.

The centre will be under the Narcotics Suppression Bureau, Pol Gen Pornsak
Durongkhaviboon, the national police chief, said yesterday.

Special funding would be arranged and he would seek modern equipment and
weapons for officers assigned to the task.

Most of the chemicals were smuggled from China and India, arriving in
Thailand through sea ports and Bangkok international airport, he said.

The major customer was the United Wa State Army, based in Mong Yawn township.

The smuggling networks ran through Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Nan, Phayao,
Phrae, Mae Hong Son, Lampang, Lamphun, Narathiwat, Pattani, Yala, Songkhla,
Satun, Tak, Kanchanaburi and Ranong.

Pol Gen Pornsak also said special task forces would be set up to combat
drugs nationwide-54 in Bangkok, 140 in the Central Plains, 150 in the
North, 136 in the Northeast and 105 in the South.

Community police would be encouraged to specify targets for the task
forces. Villages would be declared drug-free zones.

Books and equipment would be distributed to help communities and students
understand the drug menace.

More drug checkpoints would be opened and police would be tough on owners
of pubs and night entertainment places allowing underaged people on the
premises and staying open beyond legal hours.

Entertainment areas would be zoned, and kept away from communities.
Amendments had already been proposed to laws that cause delays in police
work, such as requiring a court order for a search warrant. Police want
enhanced power to search drug suspects' houses, he said.