Thailand And Laos In Cross-border Drugs Fight

[george]

Thailand joins hands with Laos in cross-border drugs fight

LAOS: -- Thailand and Laos today confirmed their joint commitment to fighting cross-border drugs smuggling, with the signing of a bilateral agreement on narcotics suppression which will see Thailand offer nearly Bt3 million of cash and equipment to help Lao drug-fighting operations.

The deal was witnessed by Justice Minister Suwat Liptapanlop and executives from the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB), together with Mr. Suban Suretorat, a minister attached to the Laotian President's Office and head of the Laotian narcotics control committee.

Under the agreement, signed near the Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge, the two countries will agree to work closer to help suppress cross-border drug smuggling operations.

Thailand also handed over nearly Bt3 million worth of cash and equipment, including a car, a digital camera, radios and a computer, to help Laos in the fight against the narcotics trade.

The ONCB has a Bt30 million budget to helping neighbouring countries solve their drugs problems, a move seen as one of the keys to control

Thailand’s own narcotics trade.

Mr. Suban admitted to reporters today that methamphetamines were a major problem in Laos, and thanked Thailand for its support.

Today Mr. Suwat also presided over a training session for 50 Laotian drugs control officers, a programme which has received financial backing from the US government

--TNA 2005-05-26

[tso310]

Thailand joins hands with Laos in cross-border drugs fight 

Thailand also handed over nearly Bt3 million worth of cash and equipment, including a car, a digital camera, radios and a computer, to help Laos in the fight against the narcotics trade.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I can't quite make my mind up who's taking the piss out of who.

[aletta]

Sure does seem to be a lot of shipments intercepted recently coming in from Laos,mainly grass.

[george]

Thailand, Laos agree to tighter cooperation on border

VIENTIANE: -- Thailand and Laos have agreed to increase cooperation against drug trafficking along their common border.

Justice Minister Suwat Liptapanlop signed a memorandum of understanding with Lao Minister Attached to the President's Office Subanh Salithilath on Thursday, following a resolution of the 7th Thai-Lao drugs meeting in Pattaya last August.

Mr Suwat said two more permanent checkpoints would be set up to intercept drugs between the Chong Mek immigration checkpoint in Ubon Ratchathani province and Laos' Wang Tao checkpoint in Champassak, and between the ones in Mukdahan province and Savannakhet.

Both sides would step up routine boat patrol along the Mekong border river from Chiang Rai to Khwang Bo Kaew in Laos, and between Nakhon Phanom and Khwang Kammoun.

Thailand was ready to provide Lao officials with technical training and financial assistance, if asked, said Mr Suwat.

At the MoU signing ceremony, Thai officials also donated two million baht, a pick-up truck and drug-fighting equipment to their Lao counterparts. Mr Suwat said Thailand would take a leading role in the fight against drugs in Southeast Asia.

Mr Subahn said Laos has emerged as an important transit point for traffickers of methamphetamines manufactured in the northern border areas of Burma and destined for Thailand.

Fierce suppression by Thai authorities had forced traffickers to switch their routes from northern Thailand to northern Laos before crossing the Mekong into northeastern Thailand. A shortage of personnel to keep a close watch on the border was the main reason traffickers could easily sneak in through Laos, he said.

But Mr Subahn denied drug manufacturers were using Laos as another base. If there was any production at all, he said, it did not amount to much.

He also said methamphetamine abuse was rising among schoolchildren in Laos, with the number of school-age addicts increasing from 11% last year to 27% this year.

--The Post 2005-05-28

[plachon]

But Mr Subahn denied drug manufacturers were using Laos as another base. If there was any production at all, he said, it did not amount to much.

He also said methamphetamine abuse was rising among schoolchildren in Laos, with the number of school-age addicts increasing from 11% last year to 27% this year.

--The Post 2005-05-28

In one year the number of school age yaa baa addicts has jumped from 1 in 10 to 1 in 4 of the population and none of it is being produced locally? Yeah like a quarter of Lao school kids can afford Thai speed at 100 + baht a tab!!!!!!! Must be a rich country that.

[Joey Boy]

Sure does seem to be a lot of shipments intercepted recently coming in from Laos,mainly grass.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

You would think they would get dogs etc @ the boarder if they gave a &lt;deleted&gt;

[spencerdharmagrafix]

Thailand joins hands with Laos in cross-border drugs fight 

Thailand also handed over nearly Bt3 million worth of cash and equipment, including a car, a digital camera, radios and a computer, to help Laos in the fight against the narcotics trade.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I can't quite make my mind up who's taking the piss out of who.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Id like more info on that george, for my Thai news section on my site and my blog.whats with the camera pc and car?..who gave to who?and where did they get these items from?

[Rhys]

Wait this is the same Class ACT Suwat that horked the Olympic Gold Medal from the First Female Medalist... Right.. Can't Remember

Sadly.. the dude has his special stash ready.. and it ready to hit the market..