Thailand is seeking to boost its drug research efficiency by setting up a regional narcotics analysis institute to deal with new types of chemicals being used in drug production, Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Minister ACM Prajin Juntong says.
Drug analysis is key to combating the spread of drugs as it sheds light on the sources of substances as well as various types of precursors and chemicals used in their production, ACM Prajin said at a seminar on increasing officials' drug analysis skills.
Substances that were confiscated were not destroyed straight away as they were sent for such analysis first, he added.
The seminar was aimed at exchanging information and knowledge regarding narcotics among agencies such as the Royal Thai Police, the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) and the Central Institute of Forensic Science.
Also present at the meeting were representatives of the Australian Federal Police, China's National Narcotics Control Commission and Singapore's Health Science Authority.
ACM Prajin said new types of chemical substances, which have never been recorded in databases, are currently being used in narcotics production, creating a need to boost the ability to identify ever-changing drug formulas with the help of state-of-the art technology to keep up with criminals.
"Thailand as a gateway country has been used as a route to deliver narcotics to other countries," ACM Prajin said.
"Therefore, it is necessary to develop a body of knowledge and exchange information with other anti-drug networks to prevent precursors from reaching producers.''
He said the seminar will be a starting point for a plan set up a regional narcotics analysis organisation based in Thailand where domestic agencies and neighbouring countries can share information on the drugs fight.
He added that Thailand has also received support from Australia, Singapore and China regarding the issue.