EBB AND FLOW OF DRUGS TRACKED

Successes In War Noted

The amount of heroin seized in the north has more than doubled as a result
of the government's war on drugs, while the number of arrests for
amphetamines has dropped.

Pittaya Jinawat, director of the northern Office of Narcotics Control Board
(ONCB), has disclosed that 40 kg of heroin a month are seized, compared
with a previous monthly average of 19 kg.

The number of amphetamines intercepted has dropped from 26 million tablets
to 70,000 tablets a month.

The ONCB and National Fighting and Victory Over Drug Center believe the
situation has improved due to the anti-drugs war.

However, Pittaya says, the north is still a preferred channel for drug
smuggling into the country, and this remains a serious problem. About 60
percent of drugs are sneaked in through Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, 30
percent through Tak and Mae Hong Son and 10 percent are beginning to get in
through the northwestern provinces of Phayao, Nan and Uttraradit.

Mae Sot district in Tak and Uttraradit province are reported to be
sensitive areas, as statistics indicate an increase in narcotics-related
arrests there.

The latest arrests in Phrae province show drug smugglers are bringing in
amphetamines in powder form, to be made into pills inside the country for
distribution. They are also reported to be constantly developing new
methods to deceive narcotics officials.

"Ketamine drugs and cough remedy mingled with dorein (particles of opium),
which used to be seen in the south of Thailand, has moved to the north to a
certain extent," Pittaya reported.

According to the director, the National Fighting and Victory Over Drug
Center in March estimated the success in drug suppression at over 87 percent.

However, while the number of drug dealers in each community has reportedly
decreased, the number of users is said to be rising.

An estimated 500 million amphetamine tablets have been smuggled into the
country so far this year, which represents a decrease from past years. But
more heroin and new sorts of narcotics such as Ecstasy and Ketamine drugs
are entering Thailand.

The ONCB's northern office disclosed that it has a blacklist of between 80
and 100 drug dealers and is cooperating with the Provincial Police Bureau,
Region 5 and 6 to investigate and find evidence in order to nail these
wrongdoers.

"Information about the drug network in the north will be continuously
updated in order to keep up with the current situation. The narcotics
suppression officers in the border areas will not be put off guard,"
according to Pittaya.

Solving the drug problem is regarded as more difficult in urban than rural
areas because it is related to other juvenile and criminal problems. The
ONCB has organized seminars with different groups, such as youth groups and
non-governmental organizations, to assess the narcotics situation.

"We are asking these groups to work together with us and local
administration organizations in drug suppression," says Pittaya. There are
more than 508 urban communities and rural municipal areas in the north,
where the ONCB has allocated over 15 million baht.