DRUG SYNDICATES CHANGE SMUGGLING ROUTE TO THAI-LAO BORDERS

Soldiers instructed to intercept the routes

The heavy crackdown on cross-border drug trafficking along the Burmese
border has had an unwanted side-effect for other areas in the north, as the
Thai-Laos border, especially in the areas of Chiang Rai, Nan, and Phayao,
has become a primary target for drug syndicates.

Army Lt. Gen. Pathompong Kesornsook has been following the situation and
monitoring progress in the suppression of drugs, influential people, and
alien labor in the Nan area, and said that the spread of drugs in Nan has
been reduced, but drug syndicates are now trying to smuggle drugs through
the Thai-Laos border.

Lt. Gen. Pathompong went to border at Huay Kroan checkpoint, Chalermprakiat
district on August 15-16. He reported that there are millions
methamphetamine pills waiting to be delivered to Thailand, and therefore the
Lt. Gen. commanded soldiers in the area to coordinate with other involved
units to follow drug dealers' movements and intercept the routes.

The drug syndicates are also expected to be concerned with the influential
groups, hired gunmen, and other dishonest government officers. Also, most
alien laborers coming from Laos try to use Nan to pass into other regions of
Thailand.