More than 3 million speed pills seized in Upper North in 3 months

More than 3 million speed pills seized in Upper North in 3 months

CHIANG MAI, 13 January 2014 (NNT) – The military task force overseeing the northernmost region has issued its three-month performance report, saying more than three million tablets of methamphetamine were confiscated in its anti-drug operations during the period.

According to Col. Kasidit Lakkrod, Deputy Commander of the Pha Muang Task Force, 119 drug suppression operations were carried out in six upper northern provinces, which are Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Phayao, Nan, Uttaradit and Phitsanulok, from October to December last year. As a result, a total of 181 drug traffickers were arrested and over 3 million meth pills were seized by the authorities.

Though the military has launched a series of suppression operations with the participation of all units in the last three months, Col. Kasidit said the amount of drugs to be smuggled into Thailand from neighboring countries could rise this year.

According to him, a surge in smuggling activities is expected particularly in the northeastern region. However, the northern region will continue to be the main smuggling route for drug trafficking rings as it is located close to production bases and shares a long border with neighboring countries.

The task force has a plan to build a tunnel at every border crossing in the six northernmost provinces. Under the measure, every vehicle entering Thailand would be forced to go through the tunnel and undergo thorough scanning by military officers using modern detection equipment.


-- NNT 2015-01-13