Thai anti-narcotic agency discloses drug eradication results in Mekong region

BANGKOK, February 19 (TNA) – Thailand, China, Myanmar and Laos arrested 1,289 suspects in 1,117 drugs related cases in their anti-drug mission in the Makong river basin region over the past month, according to the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB). ONCB Secretary-general Permpong Chaowalit revealed on Thursday results of the joint drug eradication operation by four Mekong countries between January 12 and February 18, 2015, hailing the mission as a success. He said over 9.4 million methamphetamine pills (Ya Ba), 440.64 kilogrammes of crystal methamphetamine (Ya Ice), 180.61 kilogrammes of heroin, and 59.27 kilos of marijuana were also confiscated during the period. For chemical substances, over 20,000 kilogrammes of methylene chloride, 8,150 kilogrammes of caffeine, and 293 kilos of pseudoephredine were seized, he said. One kilogramme of caffeine could be used to produce 17,000 meth pills while 20 tonnes of methylene chloride could be mixed to produce some 200 million meth tablets, according to him. The ONCB secretary-general said the chemical substances were produced in China and transported to Myanmar, through Bangkok, the Thai capital, via cargo ships. (TNA)