Thailand fulfills target of narcotic suppression

BANGKOK, September 23 (TNA) - Thailand's Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) has met its target on drug crackdowns over the past two years although the amount of illicit drug supplies and addicts in the country have not dropped. Speaking on Monday at a workshop on drug suppression evaluation and plans, ONCB Deputy Secretary-General Permpong Chaovalit acknowledged that his office has reached its target over the past two years by seizing three tons of crystal methamphetamine or “ice” and 180 million methamphetamine pills and brought more than 700,000 addicts to rehabilitation. However, Permpong said, narcotic supplies in Thailand have kept expanding, considered resulting from the underestimation of illicit drugs smuggled into the country. According to the ONCB deputy chief, his office will, next year, actively convince communities to fight against narcotics and to ask nearby countries to help suppress illicit drugs. The ONCB deputy chief noted that a narcotics control office of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will be set up in Thailand in the near future, and that his office will also seek cooperation from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) for better drug suppression. Besides, the ONCB will, next year, emphasize on suppressing drug smuggling in the Thai North, tracing drug-related money and building suppressive networks against traffickers. The ONCB deputy secretary-general also foresaw “ice” to spread next year and to raise more serious concerns, as the drug has stronger effects than ordinary methamphetamine. (TNA)