Thailand hosts international meeting on narcotics suppression

CHIANG MAI, March 4 (TNA) -- Thailand hosts an international meeting on narcotics suppression in the Mekong sub-region. Representatives from six countries – China, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam – have participated in the Meeting on Assistance Plan for the Golden Triangle Operation with Donor Countries/Agencies held in Chiang Mai. Thailand’s Office of the Narcotics Control Board organized the workshop also attended by 11 donor countries and international organization. Thailand’s Justice Minister Suwaphan Tanyuvardhana chaired the opening session on Thursday, with an aim to foster cooperation on border patrol, law enforcement and other legal actions against drug smuggling. He said Thailand had played a central role in promoting cooperation and joint operations to curb regional narcotics production. The meeting noted the rise in production and trafficking of new psychoactive substances (NPS) – synthetic drugs not yet covered by international controls. The participants acknowledged progresses in joint cooperation on drug control, particularly the joint patrols under the “Safe Mekong Joint Operations”, along the Mekong River. (TNA)