DRUGS OFFICIALS WARN OF NARCOTICS AMASSED AT THE BORDER

Narcotics suppression officials based in Chiang Mai warned that
despite the government's strict law enforcement policies, drugs
producers are stockpiling huge quantities of drugs at the border and
are changing their transportation routes into the kingdom.

Phitaya Jinawat, director of the northern office of the Narcotics
Control Board, said that Rangoon's conciliatory policies towards
minority groups across the border from Thailand are sending drugs
producers in a panicked rush to get their products over into Thai
territory. At the same time, drugs producers are shifting their
transportation routes towards Tak and Uttradit Provinces.

A meeting was held with Tak officials in order to thrash out measures
to address the problem. The urgency of the issue was highlighted by a
recent poll of residents in 10 provinces in the northern region, who
said that methamphetamines were beginning to pour into the country
again, after several months hiatus following the government's war on
drugs last year. (TNA)