ANTI-DRUG CRUSADE SEEN AS A FAILURE

Crowded Jails Add To The Problem

Rising addiction levels and an unabated inflow of narcotics show the
illegal drug trade to be beyond the control of the
authorities.

The assessment, which came at talks on narcotics problems chaired by
Interior Minister Sanan Kachornprasart, prompted one senior official
to suggest the state sell drugs cheap to undercut the
traffickers.

Methamphetamine remained the most popular drug, the meeting was told,
and suppression efforts have failed to dent distribution.

Supply routes, mainly through the Thai-Burmese border in Tak, Chiang
Mai and Chiang Rai, remain in use despite the attention of the
authorities.

In addition, ecstasy, the so-called rave drug, is quickly gaining
popularity, and a major source is a plant in Hat Yai district, Songkhla.

Siwa Sirisaovalak, deputy ministry spokesman, said more money was
needed to fight narcotics in fiscal 2001. The ministry received 265
million baht from the state in fiscal 2000 and wanted 361 million baht
next year.

The Government Lottery Office was giving the ministry 380 million baht
during fiscal 1999-2001. Funds would be channeled to local authorities
in proportion to the level of local problems. For instance, Chiang Rai
would receive 2.6 million baht against an average of 1.3 million baht,
Mr Siwa said.

Man Patanothai, assistant secretary to the minister, suggested the
state sell methamphetamine cheap to drive crooks out of business and
bring addiction under control.

"I have talked with US drug experts who suggested an eye-for-an-eye
approach," he said. "The state can sell methamphetamine at 15-20 baht
a pill through its hospitals and clinics but every buyer must also buy
curing pills. The US government will support the idea if we dare
implement it," he said.

Mr Man said methamphetamine convicts were clogging prisons. "When
methamphetamine was made a grade 1 drug like heroin, anyone caught
with a few pills ended up in jail," he said. It would not be easy to
reverse the classification.

He suggested officials slow the prosecution process against teenage
addicts to ease prison overcrowding.

"Teenagers should be given rehabilitation and put on probation so they
can hopefully return to the right path," said Mr Man. "But if they go
to jail, they may become cruel criminals because prisons are hell on
earth."Mr Man also asked the police to refrain from planting pills on
people they do not like. "The righteous performance of the police
could also help relieve prisons," he added.