ASIAN DRUG CONFERENCE BEGINS IN TOKYO

TOKYO, Feb. 2 (Kyodo) -- Japan and six other Asian countries started a
two-day conference in Tokyo on Tuesday to discuss the problem of drugs in
Asia and enhance regional cooperation to crack down on drug suppliers and
traffickers.

The Asian Drug Law Enforcement Conference will mainly discuss ways to stop
illegal drug production in Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and
Vietnam.

Takeshi Noda, chairman of the National Public Safety Commission supervising
police departments across the country, said in an opening speech that Japan
is concerned about the growing illegal production of amphetamine stimulants
in the six countries.

''Japan will support the six countries in dealing with the drug problem, in
cooperation with the U.N. International Drug Control Program,'' Noda said.

The conference, hosted by Japan's National Police Agency and the Foreign
Ministry, is being held in the wake of the U.N. General Assembly's special
meeting last June that adopted resolutions aimed at reducing illegal trade
in drugs over the next 10 years.

The United States, Italy, Sweden and five other countries as well as the
European Union are also attending the meeting as observers.

Japan supports the six Asian countries in cracking down on drugs in the
wake of increasing use of illegal drugs, especially amphetamine abuse among
the Japanese youth, police sources said.

Japan has an estimated 2.18 million amphetamine abusers, the police agency
said.