Assets seizure from drug traffickers in Thailand climbs this year

BANGKOK, January 3 (TNA) - Thailand's Office of Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) has set the target of seizing assets from drug traffickers of between 8,000 - 10,000 cases this year, while it says that crystal methamphetamines, commonly known as ‘ice’, are becoming more popular than amphetamines in Thailand. Commenting about drug problems in the country this year, ONCB deputy secretary-general Narong Ratananukul said youths aged 15-19 remain most at risk to become drug addicts and traffickers now prefer to smuggle ‘ice’ rather than amphetamines because the former contains 90 per cent of amphetamine while the latter has less than 20 per cent on an equal weight. Because of the severe flooding in several provinces last year, many people believed drug trafficking could offer good returns to traffickers, he said. The ONCB has therefore set the target of seizing assets from apprehended drug traffickers at 8,000 – 10,000 cases in 2012. Preventive measures will include drug suppression along the border, arrest of minor traffickers and allowing addicts to receive treatment or rehabilitation. Statistics from the years 2007-2010 showed that most of the addicts who had received treatment were aged 20-24 while 46 per cent of new addicts were those aged 15-19, Mr. Narong said. (TNA)