THAILAND SAYS OPIUM PRODUCTION DOUBLED THIS YEAR

BANGKOK, Dec 8 (Reuters) - The poppy plantation area of northern
Thailand, a major production base for opium and heroin, has doubled to
5,600 acres (2,270 hectares) in a year, a senior general said.

Third Army Area Commander Lieutenant-General Watanachai Chaimhuanwong told
reporters opium growers were expanding their plantations into some
food-growing areas, and this could not be detected by satellites.

Watanachai said Thailand was in talks with the United States to include
drug suppression drills into their annual joint military exercise, known as
Cobra Gold, usually held in May.

The north of Thailand is part of the infamous golden triangle poppy growing
area including the border regions of Myanmar and Laos.