ARMY ENLISTS LOCALS TO CHECK DRUGS MENACE

Emphasis Placed On The Community

The army and the local administration yesterday launched an anti-drugs
campaign to boost community awareness and co-operation.

About 100 villagers of Ban Mae Komen in Mae Sot district were the first to
join the campaign aimed at halting the spread of drugs in border communities.

Maj-Gen Tomorn Kittisopon, chief of the Naresuan task force, said the
authorities needed "strategic partners" to help fight drugs.

So far, authorities have been able to confiscate only 400,000 out of
millions of methamphetamine pills smuggled into the country in the past
three months, he said.

A three-point measure now in use was not effective enough, Maj-Gen Tomorn
added.

Under the new campaign, participants are encouraged to serve as informants
and to mete out punishment to offenders, he said.

A border source said the United Wa State Army had increased drug production
and was using a border passage near Ban Mae Komen as a smuggling route.

The United Wa State Army was also granted a concession to provide bus
services on several routes, including that linking Rangoon with Myawaddy
border town opposite Mae Sot, the source said. The buses, not subject to
official inspection, were believed to be used for transporting drugs, the
source added.

Tak provincial authorities have called on operators of vegetable transport
trucks to keep a close watch on their vehicles since there have been
reports some of the trucks were being used by drug smugglers.

Governor Nirat Vatjanaphum said close co-operation from all concerned was
vital since police alone would not be able to check all trucks leaving the
province.