Thailand joins forces against drug smugglers targeting Laos borders

Thailand has joined forces to stop drug smugglers targeting Laos borders.  Drug trafficking along the Thai-Lao border (Mekong River) have changed their routes from the North to Northeast due to heavy suppression along the northern boundary with Myanmar.

Niyom Termsrisuk, Secretary-General of the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB)  said on Monday the Thai military and its Lao counterpart are collaborating to prevent drug trafficking through the northeastern borders into Thailand.

The Royal Thai Armed Forces have formed a working group responsible for combating drug trafficking in Thai provinces bordering Laos.

Twelve teams of officers have been set up to coordinate drug investigation and suppression operations.

Anti-drug operations in Thai provinces would align with those in Lao provinces.

Thailand is keeping a closer watch on the Thai-Lao border zones due to drug traffickers’ change of smuggling routes after the Myanmar government began continuously and vigorously cracking down on drug production and storage sites its country.

The ONCB chief revealed that more drug smuggling was recently detected along the northeastern borders from Loei to Ubon Ratchathani provinces. Nong Khai, Mukdahan, Bung Kan, and Nakhon Phanom are the provinces through which drugs have been smuggled the most.

A majority of the smuggled methamphetamine has made its way into the kingdom via Nong Khai, Nakhon Phanom, Mukdahan and Ubon Ratchathani.

Drugs smuggled across the Thai-Lao border include methamphetamine, heroin, crystal methamphetamine or ice, and marijuana.

From Oct 2020 — June 2021, 22.19 million pills of methamphetamine, 638.5 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine, and 6,240 kilograms of marijuana were seized by Thai authorities.

Smugglers Routes along the Mekong River

The Mekong is already an important link in the transit chain of the region’s economic corridor networks, with more than 300,000 tonnes of goods shipped via this route each year. Port infrastructure continues to be expanded to accommodate the expected growth Executive Summary

The flow of the Mekong through China and Myanmar

Drug smugglers targeting Laos

The new bridges, highways, and port infrastructure that continue to be built on and along the Mekong are a testament to its prevailing importance. Equally, the significance of the Mekong River in social, economic, and development terms also creates opportunities for criminal activity to flourish. Improving infrastructure has exacerbated criminal threats to prosperity and peace, and it is expected that many types of organized crimes can benefit from easier accessibility and affordability on the Mekong.

The flow of the Mekong through Myanmar and Lao PDR

Drug smugglers targeting Laos

Thailand has sought help from Laos to step up efforts against drug trafficking along the Thai-Lao border after smugglers changed their routes from the North to Northeast due to heavy suppression along the northern boundary with Myanmar.

The flow of the Mekong through Myanmar, Lao PDR and Thailand

The landscape remained unchanged further downstream as the assessment team entered Lao territory in Xieng Kok – the first location with established joint patrol stations and where a briefing then took place. The assessment team then continued towards Thailand, stopping to receive briefings and conduct interviews at Wan Pong (Myanmar), Mouang Mom (Lao PDR), the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone (Lao PDR), Chiang Khong (Thailand); and Huay Xai (Lao PDR).

Recently, the Royal Thai Armed Forces have formed a working group responsible for combating drug trafficking in Thai provinces bordering Laos. Twelve teams of officers have been set up to coordinate drug investigation and suppression operations, said Mr. Niyom.

Who Is The Drug King of the Golden Triangle? (1994)

Khun Sa – Opium Warlord (1994): One of the world’s most dangerous warlords and most powerful drug king-pins, Khun Sa ran a heroin-fuelled empire complete with a 20,000 man private army.

Patrolling the Mekong:  Has been a long ongoing battle for Thai police, here is a video of them combatting drug trafficking in 2016

CCTV English reports

Source: Drug gangs start to target Laos border

(Photo by Chanat Katanyu)

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