Thailand intensifies measures to fight drug influx

Thailand intensifies measures to fight drug influx    (Photo: VNA)

Bangkok (VNA) – The Thai army has tightened security along the northern border following reports of greater quantities and varieties of illegal drugs flowing into the country from Myanmar.

Maj Gen Jarad Panyadee, deputy commissioner of the Northern Border Narcotic Control Centre (NBNCC), said the force from Division 3 has deployed unmanned aerial vehicles, remote sensing technology and army sniffer dogs alongside an increase in manpower to stifle the illegal trade.

He added that narcotics production is now faster and cheaper, which makes the product more accessible, especially via online dark web sales. As many as 29 districts, covering provinces in the northern and northeastern regions, have reported recent drug smuggling activity.

Meanwhile, 13 districts, covering Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, and Loei, are regarded as areas with a serious narcotic problem, with nine in Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Mae Hong Son, and Phayao marked as having medium-high levels of illicit drug trading.

The Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) has laid charges in 219 narcotics cases since October, with 233 suspects arrested and nearly 432 million THB (nearly 13 million USD) worth of properties seized along the way, he said.

Last year, 362,888,336 pills of methamphetamine or ya ba were seized along the northern border as well as 5,418 kg of crystal methamphetamine, or ya ice, and 252kg of heroin, he noted./.