ISLAND TO DECLARE ITSELF "DRUG-FREE"

PHUKET TOWN: Governor Udomsak Usawarangkura has announced that Phuket
is ready to declare itself a "drug-free" province.

The official announcement was due to be made at Saphan Hin on the
evening of November 8, just before the traditional Loy Krathong
Festival ceremony, and a long way ahead of the government's target
date of December 2.

Gov Udomsak said on October 20 that Phuket had passed all the Ministry
of Interior criteria that had to be met for a province to be listed as
"drug-free".