ANTI-DRUG EFFORTS GET BOOST

Four Countries To Step Up Co-operation

Four countries in the Mekong sub-region will co-operate more in their fight
against drug trafficking along the Mekong river, a seminar was told.

Some 50 representatives from Burma, China, Laos, and Thailand joined a
workshop on drug suppression in the Golden Triangle area, held at a Chiang
Rai hotel yesterday.

Narcotics Control Board deputy secretary-general Chartchai Suthiklom said
it was agreed the four Mekong countries would step up their collaboration
in combatting drugs and exchanging information on drug trafficking and
trading in border areas.

Thailand's fierce drug suppression in the North has forced drug gangs to
switch to smuggling routes in Tak and along the Mekong river opposite
Chiang Rai since the liberalisation of water transport in the region, he said.

More drug production bases along the border have been converted into
makeshift factories with the total production capacity of about 500-600
million speed pills per year, Mr Chartchai said.

Yngve Danling, the United Nations Drug Control Programme's senior law
enforcement adviser, said the UNDCP has always encouraged all Golden
Triangle countries to help each other fight drugs.

There was a tendency the smuggling of drugs and drug precursors would be
prominent along the Mekong, he said.

According to him, the production of methamphetamines in Burma and the
spread of drugs in Thailand were of concern but opium and heroin problems
became less serious.

Budgets totalling US$1.8 billion would be set aside by the UNDCP to support
anti-drug operations in Burma, Cambodia, China, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam.