PUBLISHED: 10 Sep 2024 at 04: 00
Anti-drug officials have made 1, 607 arrests this year in six northern regions, and they have pledged to intensify efforts to prosecute more people in the 2025 fiscal year beginning next month.
The six northeastern provinces are Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Mae Hong Son, Phayao, Nan and Tak.
According to estimates, there are thousands of kilos of crystal meth kept close to the Thai border in the northeast and waiting to be distributed to users in Malaysia, central and southern, as well as tens of millions of heroin pills.
The results of the crackdowns carried out in the northern regions ‘ borderland areas over the past ten months were revealed at a press conference held by the Office of the Narcotics Control Board ( ONCB) secretary-general Pol Lt Gen Phanurat Lukboon and Pol Gen Narit Thawornwong, the unit’s commander, on Tuesday.
A meeting was held to discuss the efforts of various military and police organizations to combat the drug problem and prepare for the efforts for the following year.
In a charge to fulfill the president’s commitment to minimize the effects of medicines on Thai culture, it was also revealed that the government will intensify efforts to combat drugs in the 2025 fiscal year.
According to Pol Gen Narit, there are believed to be at least 80 million cocaine medications and 1, 000 kg of glass meth being stored in warehouses just over the nation’s northern border.
These opioids are owned by two distinct Thai substance systems, he claims. The second includes Malaysia and the southern area of the nation. The others are those who transport them between the eastern and central parts.
The commander added that most people in Thailand are interested in purchasing cocaine pills, whereas foreign drug users are more likely to find them.
Pol Gen Narit also said that Taskforce 35 was involved in 44 anti-drug activities, arresting 1, 607 offenders. It also seized 256 million cocaine medications, 2.68 tonnes of crystal meth, 375 kg of cocaine, 206 kg of raw opium and 21 kg of morphine in 18 regions in the six northeastern regions between Dec 1 last year and Sep 8.
He added that 31 offenders, who were mostly based in Chiang Mai’s Mae Ai and Fang regions and Chiang Rai’s Mae Sai and Mae Fa Luang towns, were killed by soldiers.