Drug-free communities an elusive goal, ONCB chief admits

Drug-free communities an elusive goal, ONCB chief admits

Police catalogue 1.3 million methamphetamine pills and eight kilogrammes of crystal methamphetamine seized during May last year. (Bangkok Post file photo)
Police catalogue 1.3 million methamphetamine pills and eight kilogrammes of crystal methamphetamine seized during May last year. (Bangkok Post file photo)

It is difficult to create any so-called "white” communities turned totally free of drugs because the production and spread of narcotics have continued unabated, Office of Narcotics Control Board secretary-general Narong Rattananukul said.

Mr Narong said the country's drug problem remain serious. Production of drugs in the "Golden Triangle" area continues without limitation and the distribution of narcotics inside the country remains rampant.

As a result, a large quantity of drugs is still being smuggled across the border through the northern and northeastern parts of Thailand.

A survey on the demand for drugs revealed they still are much sought, they said.

The ONCB's efforts to suppress of drugs have caused traffickers to switch smuggling routes from the northern border to the Northeast. Authorities conceded that suppression efforts along the border haven't been enough to stem the illicit tide.

"We have to admit that people do not see improvement in the drug situation.   The ONCB will try to concentrate more on the suppression in communities and villages.  More than 200 villages are now heavily infested with drugs," Mr Narong said.

The ONCB chief admitted the idea of a "white community" clean of drugs is difficult to realise. He said it is easier to make a community stronger and more resistant to drug use than to make it drug-free.

Mr Narong said the ONCB is also focusing on measures to curb the drug trade, especially through seizures and freezing of assets derived from drug money. New technologies are being used to trace financial and communication routes in order to snare masterminds, not just traffickers.

He said this year 284,499 suspects have been arrested in 264,974 cases. Authorities seized 87 million methamphetamine pills, 179 kilogrammes of heroin, 1,442kg of crystal methamphetamine and 22,927kg of marijuana.

Authorities also confiscated 2,301 assets worth 993.94 million baht.  Altogether 207,281 drug users have undergone rehabilitation.

This year, there have been 519 complaints against state officials and 144 of them have been arrested in connection with drug-suppression operations.  Last year, there were 306 complaints with 94 arrested.

Concerning the drug suppression under the "Safe Mekong" anti-drug operations, Mr Narong said the ONCB next month will propose a three-year operational plan with cooperation from five regional neighbours: Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam.

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