DRUG TRAFFICKERS PREFER LAOS BORDER

Police Still on Lookout Over Songkran

Officials are concerned that drug traffickers will take advantage of
the Songkran festival to smuggle drugs into Thailand from across its
northern borders. Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra also noted that
drug trafficking was now taking place through Laos, rather than Burma.

Thai citizens had reported that drug smuggling had changed from Burma
to the Laos border areas because of the government's War on Drugs
campaign. "Experienced officers have therefore to be recruited to
pursue the drug trade and trafficking in the Laos border areas," said
Thaksin.

The PM also responded to reputed public concerns that during the
Songkran festival police would concentrate on traffic problems and
disregard drug suppression. He responded by asserting that officers
would be assigned during Songkran to continue their drug suppression
duties.