METHAMPHETAMINE CRACKDOWN

'Sell Drugs To Boost Coffers'

Speed Pills 'Should Be Sent To Hospitals'

A veteran member of the Budget Committee suggested yesterday that
confiscated methamphetamine be sold within Thailand or overseas to boost
the state coffers.

Committee member Chai Chidchob of the Chart Thai party said speed pills
seized from traffickers should be put on sale, probably for 10 satang per
tablet, within Thailand or be exported.

"The government would earn a lot of money and stop borrowing foreign loans.
I'll give my suggestion during an interpellation with the government
shortly," the veteran lawmaker said during the committee's deliberation on
funding for the Office of the Narcotics Control Board.

Committee member Surachart Chamnansilp of the Thai Rak Thai supported Mr
Chai's initiative and said speed pills might be distributed to hospitals
nationwide so that the drug could be prescribed to patients with intent to
cure them eventually.

The TRT legislator charged that police had overreacted against small-time
drug dealers by legally gunning them down.

"The police committed legal murders of those who had possessed just a few
tablets only to make face for themselves," Mr Surachart said.

But ONCB chief Kitti Limchaikit argued that selling the pills to the public
would not solve drug problems in the long run.