Chiang Mai: Four nations have agreed to promote regional drugs cooperation during an extension of the second phase of an operation to fight narcotics production and distribution in the upper Mekong region and the Golden Triangle.
They reached the agreement Wednesday at the first ministerial meeting of the Safe Mekong Joint Operation in Chiang Mai. The nations participating in the event are Thailand, Laos, Myanmar and China.
The second phase of the four nations anti-drug activities began on Jan 12.
Representing Thailand, Justice Minister Gen Paiboon Koomchaya said representatives of the nations agreed to strengthen four main areas in their regional drugs suppression effort in the extended second phase of the drug crackdown which will start on May 11 and finish on Sept 11.
The four main areas of cooperation include suppressing drugs production and trafficking areas, and calling for Vietnam, South Korea, India and Cambodia to take part in finding solutions to prevent the smuggling of drug precursors and chemical substances into the region.
The nations will compile a list of drug dealers and traffickers actively operating in the region and promote Thailand's royally-initiated model of sustainable alternative development for people in each of the four countries, Gen Paiboon said.
The Safe Mekong Joint Operation's coordinating centre was set up in Chiang Mai on Jan 12 and has made progress in eradicating drugs and cracking down on drug dealers and traffickers, sources said.
Gen Paiboon said the operation had proven successful as authorities in the four countries were able to block the smuggling of drug precursors into the Golden Triangle, resulting in a reduction of drugs production and the spread of drugs in the Mekong region. The Golden Triangle is a region where the borders of Thailand, Laos and Myanmar meet. It is notorious as a drugs production base and opium plantation area in Southeast Asia.
Gen Paiboon said authorities were also able to suppress many drugs shipments especially at piers along the Mekong River. Given the operation's recent successes, the cabinet had given permission for it to be extended. Apart from that agreement, he said Thailand had asked the Chinese government to help provide funds to support drugs suppression and prevention works in Myanmar and Laos.
Permphong Chavalit, secretary-general of the Office of the Narcotics Control Board, who also participated in the meeting, said the Chinese were focused on the smuggling of precursors and chemical substances from China into the region as this has damaged the image of their country.
Mr Permphong said there are more than 100,000 factories producing precursors and chemical substances across China. While many are needed to manufacture medicines, they also serve as precursors for making illicit drugs, and have been illegally diverted to the illicit drugs market in the region. He said China is stepping up controls on the sale of some precursors and chemical substances and their export from China to destination countries as it fears they may be destined for the illicit market.