Bangkok (VNA) – Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai has vowed to end cross-border drug smuggling in 14 provinces within six months.
Phumtham, assigned to lead the efforts to fight drug trafficking, said he had consulted commanders-in-chief of the armed forces, the National Police chief, the Office of Narcotics Control Board, the Justice Ministry, and the Department of Special Investigation as well as military agencies concerned with drug suppression.
The military is normally in charge of sealing the border against drug smuggling across the border, he stated, adding traffickers have been able to trade drugs via natural trails due to long border.
The official said he will convene a meeting of 14 governors of border provinces and chiefs of 51 border districts as well as commanders of 76 police stations in the districts on January 20 to discuss efforts ending the smuggling.
KPI guidelines will be drafted to assess the performance of the commanders of the police stations and border districts. If the situation does not improve clearly, the station chiefs will have to take responsibility, he added./.
Thailand endeavours in drug crackdowns
Thailand’s anti-drug authorities have arrested 1,607 drug suspects in six northern provinces this year and have pledged to step up efforts to bring more to justice in the 2025 fiscal year starting next month.
