Thailand's dozen communities under watchful eyes of anti-drugs officials

BANGKOK, October 20 (TNA) - Thailand's anti-narcotics officials are closely monitoring 12 slum communities nationwide, including three in Bangkok, as part of the government's attempts to get rid of drugs and drug addicts, especially among youths. When announcing the policy Saturday, ONCB Secretary-General Police General Pongsapas Pongcharoen said Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra presided over the opening of Baan Oon-chai in Bangkok’s Klong Toey slum earlier in the day and the area will, from now on, serve as a coordination centre around-the-clock and police will patrol the area to prevent and crack down minor drug traffickers. Police General Pongsapas then acknowledged during the weekly address of Premier Yingluck that more than 3,000 youths living in Klong Toey slum are at risk of becoming drug addicts; while another some 1,000 have already left their schools. According to the ONCB chief, the police will closely “X-Ray" all the 12 slum communities countrywide and will not allow small-time drug traffickers to remain there, as surveillance cameras will be installed at 18 targeted points in Klong Toey alone. The ONCB chief noted that the officials will also closely watch drug addicts who have undertaken rehabilitation to ensure that they will not take drugs again, and that the Thai government plans to improve conditions at all the 12 slum communities as well, especially Klong Toey, so that people there will no longer get involved in the illegal drug business. (TNA)