Thailand’s Anti-Drug Agency Closely Monitors Border Checkpoints

BANGKOK, December 31 (TNA) - Authorities of Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) are closely monitoring all the 93 border checkpoints following intelligence reports that drug traffickers may smuggle drug into Thailand during the New Year’s holidays, said ONCB secretary-general Pol. Gen. Pongsapat Pongcharoen. He said ONCB and other concerned government agencies have been monitoring checkpoints bordering Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and Malaysia since December 25. The monitoring will continue until mid January. Intelligence reports, according to ONCB secretary-general, show that drug traffickers usually smuggle narcotics during the festivities into Bangkok and outlying areas and later sell to minor traffickers hiding in communities. Also, anti-drug officials have set up more road checkpoints on 34 locations in Thailand, Pol. Gen. Pongsapat said. In order to suppress drug smuggling during the New Year holidays effectively, ONCB also exchanges information with its counterparts in neighbouring countries, he added. (TNA)