THAILAND STILL A KEY PLAYER IN THE DRUG SMUGGLING SCENE

More heroin is expected to be smuggled into Thailand, with the
traffickers changing their transit routes to bring it in via Laos
instead of Myanmar.

The Office of Narcotics Control Board (ONCB), Northern Office said
international relations between Thailand and its neighbors Myanmar and
Laos have improved, and Thailand is ready to adjust its strategic plan
in the second "War on Drugs" in this region.

The prospects of future cooperation between Thailand and Myanmar are
said to be bright. The Burmese authorities have cooperated well in
reducing drug production among the minority groups, as well as helping
to repatriate drug suspects fleeing Thailand to hide in Myanmar.

The Laotian authorities are also reported to be cooperating with Thai
authorities to arrest drug suspects who hole up in Laos. According to
an ONCB official, there are more than 50 names on blacklists who have
crossed the borders to hide from the Thai authorities.

ONCB director Pittaya Jinawat said that drug dealers were likely to
smuggle along the water route of the Mekong River, passing through
Laos into northeastern Thailand. "Drug dealers arrested in Bangkok and
nearby areas confessed that more and more drugs are being smuggled
through Isaan," he said.

The major drug routes in the north are likely to be Chiang Mai, Chiang
Rai, Mae Hong Son, and Tak provinces.

"Most of confiscated hauls at present are drugs that were smuggled a
long time ago and stockpiled. Only one case was found to be from a new
batch of drugs seized by the Drug Suppression Division police," he
said.

It seems more heroin is coming into Thailand as there is a smuggling
route going north to China. However, the Chinese authorities have set
up checkpoints in cooperation with Burmese anti-drug units, but
"Thailand is the network and transfer location for drug smuggling to
third countries," he added.

As a result of official analyses, the strategic anti-drugs plan would
be adjusted and continuously revised with the cooperation of officers
in the Third Army Region.

The authorities have reduced the amount of drugs entering Thailand
since the government launched the first "War on Drugs". This second
time, the government's policy will put pressure on drug users and dealers.

"We will focus on major drug traders who help smuggle ya ba pills and
heroin into Thailand," he said.