Thailand Burns 34 Tonnes Of Contraband Drugs, Worth Bt221 Million

[webfact]

Thailand burns 34 tonnes of contraband drugs, worth Bt221 million

AYUTTHAYA, May 4 - Thai Public Health Ministry on Friday burned 34 tonnes of illegal drugs, including pseudoephedrine-based drugs, valued at estimated Bt221 million (more than US$7.36 million).

Public Health Minister Witthaya Buranasiri presided over the incineration of contraband drugs, substances, cosmetics and medical devices as well as 238 kilogrammes of the pseudoephedrine-based cold medicines, which drugstores returned to the Food and Drug Administration, at the utility and environment management centre in the Bang Pa-In industrial estate.

The destroyed drugs were confiscated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Consumer Protection Police Division in the past year.

The huge volume of drugs incinerated today demonstrated that many illegal drugs and medical substances remained in circulation in the market, Mr Witthaya said, instructing government officials to step up measures to crack down on contraband drugs, illegal medical devices, and health-related substances.

Regarding pseudoephedrine-based drugs, the minister explained that the Thai FDA has asked drug manufacturers, importers companies and drugstores to return the cold medicines, due yesterday (May 3).

The drug recall followed the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) investigation of irregularities in procurement of the medicine after large amounts disappeared from a number of state hospitals.

Pseudoephidrine can be used as a basic element in methamphetamine production.

Mr Witthaya warned the public to carefully check food supplements as some counterfeit items with forged registrations are still found in the market.

As of Thursday, 20,780,000 pseudoephedrine-based pills and 11,700,000 cubic centimetres of pseudoephedrine-based syrup were returned by 43 drug companies, FDA Deputy Sec-Gen Pongpan Wongmanee said.

Sixty million pseudoephedrine-based tablets are currently stored at drug companies while 21 million others were in the government and private hospitals allowed to be used for treatment for about one year. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-05-04

[chrisinth]

Should be a few "happy" people round Bang Pa-In tonight!

Beats farmers burning their fields.............

[MEL1]

I always wonder why Governments have to give a cost value of destroyed drugs. It's almost like a magic marker indicating huge success.

The reality is that any sized haul is success, and any removal or destruction is success, no matter what the size.

So, because it's a big haul, a pat on the back is deserved?

Small fish inevitably become big fish in the drug world if they get away with it, and so it is at all sizes of removal where the hard work must be equally recognised. I'd just as much like news of small drug heists, being covered by media, as much as great heists - no matter the value!

-mel.

[nbm47]

And how many million baht did our bib rip off for themselves ................

[hellodolly]

And how many million baht did our bib rip off for themselves ................

exactly you beat me to it.

[PoodMaiDai]

What, no photos?

[webfact]

FDA destroys illegal health products

Pongphon Sarnsamak

The Nation

The Food and Drug Administration destroys substandard medication, especially those with pseudoephedrine, as well as food products, cosmetics and medical equipment at the Bang PaIn Industrial Park in Ayutthaya.

AYUTTHAYA: -- The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) yesterday destroyed more than 30 tonnes of illegal health-related products, including 20 million pseudoephedrine-based cold pills. The items had a street value of more than Bt221 million.

All the medication was ground up and burned at the Public and Environmental Service Centre located at the Bang Pa-In Industrial Park. The items destroyed included 8 tonnes of drugs worth Bt10 million, 5 tonnes of food products valued at Bt1 million, 5 tonnes of cosmetics worth Bt20 million and 40 kilograms of medical devices worth Bt70,000.

FDA secretary-general Dr Pipat Yingseri said they had also destroyed 238kg of psychotropic drugs, including pills containing pseudoephedrine.

Previously, the watchdog had asked pharmacies nationwide to return all pseudoephedrine-based medication they had in their stocks. It received about 20 million tablets and 11 million cubic centimetres of cough mixture.

"I believe pseudoephedrine-based cold pills can no longer be bought over the counter," FDA deputy secretary- general Dr Pongphan Wongmanee said. "We will check the pharmacies' stocks again."

However, he said, if the Public Health Ministry withdrew its regulation prohibiting pharmacies from selling pseudoephedrine-based cold pills, the FDA will find other measures to control the distribution of this drug. The FDA yesterday examined three manufacturers that have produced more than 3 million cold pills containing pseudoephedrine, and found no abnormalities.

-- The Nation 2012-05-05

[noitom]

So instead of showing an ID or Thai driver's license, they make all these formerly over the counter great products unavailable. That's like throwing the baby out with the bathwater.

Still we never see any Mr. Bigs being arrested, handcuffed, and charged. Amazing.

[PingManDan]

Did any of the public see them do this, great oppertunity for them to say they did, and then resell all drugs for a money in the pocket gift, also saving a bit for personal use, Amazing Thailand, lets remember

[MEL1]

I didn't know the drug world used regrind.

-mel.

[Payboy]

11 million cubic centimetres of cough mixture

11,000 liters would've been soooo less impressive.

[paulswebb]

Ha, thats where all the smog comes from

[spiritrace]

The first thing I thought of was all those people with allergies. Pseudoephedrine is one of the best medications for allergies. So millions have to suffer because a few use pseudoephedrine to make meth.

I've always hated mass punishment.

[TAWP]

The first thing I thought of was all those people with allergies. Pseudoephedrine is one of the best medications for allergies. So millions have to suffer because a few use pseudoephedrine to make meth.

I've always hated mass punishment.

That's what happens when knee-jerk reactions rule the day.

Not even in the US did they take this step.

[arrowsdawdle]

Okay, numbers again, and based on TAT dreams one cannot help but press the calcualtor into service. 34 tons = 68,000lbs. divided into 221 million baht = 3,250 baht per pound (US$ 105.18)

Have no experience at this but Is it even possible to buy a pound of bad weed for a hundred bucks these days?

Can anybody weigh in on this? Do the numbers make sense?

[bangkokgabe]

Okay, numbers again, and based on TAT dreams one cannot help but press the calcualtor into service. 34 tons = 68,000lbs. divided into 221 million baht = 3,250 baht per pound (US$ 105.18)

Have no experience at this but Is it even possible to buy a pound of bad weed for a hundred bucks these days?

Can anybody weigh in on this? Do the numbers make sense?

Yes, you can buy a lb. for 100$-if you know the right folks

[how241]

It's a good start.

[squarethecircle]

Small fish inevitably become big fish in the drug world if they get away with it, and so it is at all sizes of removal where the hard work must be equally recognised. I'd just as much like news of small drug heists, being covered by media, as much as great heists - no matter the value!

Not true - mules tend not to be used for repeated smuggling ventures since the authorities will catch on and profile them for this before. So drug lords/cartels tend to use people only a few times. The fact that people can make several years of income in one or two runs means that there will always be a supply of people willing or desperate enough to take this risk. The "big fish" are obviously well connected with Thai and foreign drug agencies - otherwise the flow of illegal materials would be halted. The closer you get to the top in the drug trade, the harder it is to tell who's the "good guy" and who's the "bad guy". Thailand gets bad press for corruption but this also holds true in western countries such as the US.

Also, I got a prescription filled for pseudoephedrine a couple of weeks back, for a nasty cold. It is a good medicine for certain illnesses, so glad to see it's not uniformly being taken off the shelves.

[nurofiend]

It's a good start.

to what?

[Tanlic]

To increasing the prices of the others they have?

[hellodolly]

I didn't know the drug world used regrind.

-mel.

They will now.

[hellodolly]

Okay, numbers again, and based on TAT dreams one cannot help but press the calcualtor into service. 34 tons = 68,000lbs. divided into 221 million baht = 3,250 baht per pound (US$ 105.18)

Have no experience at this but Is it even possible to buy a pound of bad weed for a hundred bucks these days?

Can anybody weigh in on this? Do the numbers make sense?

You should have read the article. Don't you know that the head lines vary seldom pertain to the reality.

The first paragraph read

"Public Health Minister Witthaya Buranasiri presided over the incineration of contraband drugs, substances, cosmetics and medical devices as well as 238 kilogrammes of the pseudoephedrine-based cold medicines"

For all we know it was 33 tons cosmetics and medical devices. And one ton of drugs.

[Dap]

What is the definition of "medical devices"?

[wilsonf]

I don't know what the definition of 'Medical devices' is but I've seen a number of pictures of this 'crushing' and what appeared to be 'monitors' with digital displays were shown, if they've crushed any kind of equipment that could have been distributed to small hospitals and clinics in rural area's, and could have benefited less well off Thais, shame on them !!

[JemJem]

11 million cubic centimetres of cough mixture

11,000 liters would've been soooo less impressive.

[mrfill]

It's a good start.

to what?

To allow the bigger criminals gain even further power, just like the mafia did in the US after prohibition. It didn't work then and it won't work now. After all these so called successes, the use and abuse of these drugs increases which suggests the policy is not achieving its objectives but the powers that be, brains addled by years of alcohol poisoning, fail to notice this. A few countries have bravely tried different strategies with some real success but they are dismissed as 'irresponsible'. The rest continue with their failing methods increasing any problems and wasting huge amounts of money. Worthless as it is, it does give them something to do.

[nurofiend]

It's a good start.

to what?

To allow the bigger criminals gain even further power, just like the mafia did in the US after prohibition. It didn't work then and it won't work now. After all these so called successes, the use and abuse of these drugs increases which suggests the policy is not achieving its objectives but the powers that be, brains addled by years of alcohol poisoning, fail to notice this. A few countries have bravely tried different strategies with some real success but they are dismissed as 'irresponsible'. The rest continue with their failing methods increasing any problems and wasting huge amounts of money. Worthless as it is, it does give them something to do.

agreed.

[PoodMaiDai]

You can get drunk from mouthwash. Look out!!!!

[JVichitt]

So instead of showing an ID or Thai driver's license, they make all these formerly over the counter great products unavailable. That's like throwing the baby out with the bathwater.

Still we never see any Mr. Bigs being arrested, handcuffed, and charged. Amazing.

So instead of showing an ID or Thai driver's license, they make all these formerly over the counter great products unavailable. That's like throwing the baby out with the bathwater.

Still we never see any Mr. Bigs being arrested, handcuffed, and charged. Amazing.

Thai pharmacies are required by law to staff a licensed pharmacist to sell drugs and keep inventory. This is rarely practiced; instead owners pay a quack every year to keep their shops authorized. They won't ever keep track of purchasers if they can't play by the rules from the start.

That said, it is a shame that pseudoephedrine is banned. The government should deal with the methamphetamine epidemic by improving the miserable living situations of potential users. Banning one precursor chemical will only up the stakes for criminal conglomerates to steal/smuggle scarce and tightly-controlled alternatives, and open doors for new players in this game.

Edited May 6, 2012 by JVichitt

[Arkady]

There is no mention of the volume of seized drugs that didn't make it to the bonfire and was resold by police. It is probably much more than what went on the fire. Also no mention of the volume of illegal drugs not seized at all, although politicians, police, military and other public officials were fully aware of the trade and in fact are part of the drug dealing gangs.