DRUG DEALERS TAKE TO THE WATER

Mekong River Popular in The GMS

The Mekong River is becoming increasingly used as a transit route for
drug smuggling and a rendezvous point for drug dealers.

This was claimed at a workshop on international cooperation in drug
suppression, especially along the river, that took place from July
20-22 at the Wiang Inn Hotel in Chiang Rai and was organized by the
Border Drug Suppression Center, Office of Narcotics Control Board, and
the United Nations.

Representatives from the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) countries -
China, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand - and the UN Office on Drugs and
Crime as well as observers from the Japanese consulate and about 60
other participants.

The workshop aimed to give officers in the four countries along the
river an opportunity to exchange opinions and share experiences to
strengthen their drug suppression coordination.

The participants also discussed effective solutions to the drug
problem in the GMS and planned an operation strategy to suppress
trafficking along the Mekong border lines.